3. Interior Display
John Romano
John Romano is from Boulder, Colorado. He studied experimental film at the University of Colorado whilst also pursuing a career as an artisan baker and pastry chef for about 10 years. John has collaborated extensively with Stacey Steers, an acclaimed experimental film maker and one of his former professors, on her films and installations. The two have worked together now for about 5 years and are currently partnering on a new film project
His interest in design evolved from his career as a pastry chef, where he was called upon to design restaurants, bakeries and home interior projects, such as The Bindary restaurant in Denver, Colorado, and various projects with Joe McGuire Design studio in Aspen, Colorado. These experiences led John to decide to apply to the RCA. His work here has been a blend of his passions in film, food and responsible design.
I’ve always viewed the world around me - my work in culinary arts, my drawings, film work and everything that I do - through an artistic lens. I like to collaborate with other creative people to curate and design a diverse range of ideas for artistic and community-oriented projects.
I am inspired by the opportunity to contribute to the history of places while embracing a more sustainable future through the transformation of old structures for modern use. Social values and ethics are also very important to me, along with creating community-based and ecologically sound environments.
For my final year project at the RCA, I have developed a concept for two spaces at the Chelsea Physic Garden. As public awareness of the human impact on the environment increases, people are searching for new options for responsible living. This is influencing, shaping and disrupting industries. Contrary to our waste driven system, some businesses are reorienting their missions towards responsible design and incorporating new approaches like aquaponics, stem-to-root, carbon capture and new materials made from the waste stream. Designers have a unique role to play in highlighting the problem and providing solutions.
Since 1673 the Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanic garden, occupying 4 acres of land on the banks of the River Thames.
It houses an impressive living collection of around 5,000 different edible, useful and medicinal plants. The site comprises various gardens, glasshouses, an education room, café and store. Despite the garden’s heritage, conservation ethos and influence, its use of interior spaces fails to connect with either its rich history or its future aspirations.
This project reimagines two existing buildings within the Chelsea Physic Garden site: a restaurant and exhibition space. Both spaces are founded on the philosophy of permaculture, which is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities in harmony with nature for many generations to come.
The restaurant design is based in its material choices and connection to the garden. New systems for growing such as hydroponics and
aeroponics are displayed amongst the diners, creating a futuristic glance at urban farming. A glasshouse extends from the existing building, reflecting the garden outside within the interior space.
Displayed within the exhibition space is a multisensory experience of wellness, wonder and intimacy: revealing hidden worlds of nature. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from above ground to below through four distinctive spaces: The Beeswax Temple, Mycelium Ruins, The Binoculus, and Wonder Well. This new concept is a synthesis of art, innovation and design with herbalism, nutrition, urban and eco mindsets. The workings of nature are exposed and displayed in a way that makes them experiential and accessible and worthy of a site as important as the Chelsea Physic Garden.
