Kew's Millennium Seed Bank - Design and build
The architects Stanton Williams worked closely with Kew's scientific and buildings maintenance staff to design the Millennium Seed Bank building.
Designer's sketch of the building.
The architects used Entada species as inspiration. (Photo: H.J. Schlieben, Tanzania 1935)
The design aims were:
1. to meet the long-term and flexible needs of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership.
2. to fit a high quality building harmoniously into the surroundings.
3. to bring the public into close contact with the MSB's scientific work.
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.
See the gallery of architecture images
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Latest news
The Millennium Seed Bank joins seed swap events
31 Jan 2012
Following the success of our Great Seed Swap, held at Wakehurst Place on 17 September 2011, the Millennium Seed Bank is supporting seed swap events around Sussex and further afield this year.
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First call for MSBP-BGCI Fieldwork Fund
27 Jan 2012
The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP) and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) are delighted to announce the first call for the MSBP-BGCI Fieldwork Fund.
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Sowing the seeds of UK biodiversity - Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank launches UK Native Seed Hub
17 Aug 2011
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew launches the UK Native Seed Hub at the Millennium Seed Bank, Wakehurst – an initiative that draws on the Millennium Seed Bank’s extensive collection of UK native seeds, as well as its horticultural and scientific expertise to support the UK seed industry, conservation groups and other organisations working to restore native plants to the UK countryside.
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Welcome to Stephen Hopper's blog
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A successful 250th anniversary year for Kew.
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