Architectural Design and Build
Sketch of proposed building
The architects, Stanton Williams, worked closely with Kew's scientific and building maintenance staff to design the building. Design aims were to
- meet the long-term and flexible needs of the MSB Project,
- fit a high quality building harmoniously into the surroundings and
- bring the public into close contact with the scientific work.
The architects used Entada species as inspiration. (Photo: H.J. Schlieben, Tanzania 1935)
The building utilises natural contours. The ground floor nestles inconspicuously into the landscape. Topped by concrete barrel vaults, the scientific area is laid out logically and for maximum visibility from the glass-covered public area. Below, contours allow the seed vault to be buried and the bedroom and seminar areas to open onto the 'Academic Court'.
The transition between inside and out has been dissolved by drawing the landscape into the public area and by sandstone paving folding up into the elevations to 'lock' the building into the ground. A perimeter brick wall, echoing an existing Wakehurst site boundary is threaded horizontally into the paving and the parterres.
The idea of allowing the public to view the work came from the scientific staff who produced this concept drawing early in the Project's development.
