|
London
HOK International
Photography © Peter Durant
A museum gains visibility and purpose
in its new home
|
"It
is innovative how the viewer and scientist exist
side by side—the viewers can see in, the scientists
have their privacy."
—Sam Farber
Architect
HOK International www.hok.com
Client
Natural History Museum www.nhm.ac.uk
(Darwin Center www.nhm.ac.uk/darwincentre/)
Key
players
Buro Happold, Arup Facade Engineering (engineers);
Shepherd Construction (general contractor)
|
|
Program:
A natural history museum required a new building to provide
public access to and storage for its 22 million zoological
specimens. In addition, the existing facility did not provide
adequate conditions for the 100 scientists working there.
A new museum would represent the first stage in a phased remodeling
of several museum buildings on a 23-acre site.
Solution: Designers
and engineers worked as a single task force to develop solutions
to achieve the client's goals. They created a building comprising
three sections—a light-filled lab area located at the
front of the building behind the glass facade; cold storage
for specimens in the back; and a glazed atrium separating
the two areas that allows the public to view the scientists
at work and observe the vastness and beauty of the collection.
A 122 percent increase in visits signifies the success of
the project. As well, the increased visibility of its research
has helped the client with fund-raising efforts.
For more images please see the November
2003 issue or Architectural Record.
The Winners: Orange
Innovations
The Finalists: Automated
Trading Desk Technology Campus
Unbuilt Projects: Great
Harbor Design Center
|
print
this page
e-mail
this page
