© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

Four architectural “seed-pods” house the important functions of the new building. These organic geometrical forms adjoin an orthogonal building and continue the site’s walled garden quality. Timber, recycled materials, super-insulation and energy saving technology will produce BREEAM ‘outstanding’ quality

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

Spreading seeds in the urban environment is a way of addressing the disappearance of British wildflowers. We have taken this analogy and scattered four architectural seed-pods, housing the important functions of the National Wildflower Centre, within the existing walled garden.

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

The seed pods contain an introduction gallery, conference hall, stair and lift and a seed propagation area. The centre-piece of the scheme is a Fibonacci Conference Hall, an innovative structure based on the principle of taking a flat sheet and giving it stiffness by introducing folds. For the roof this technique has been combined with the natural Fibonacci sequence to create a complex spiralling form that reflects the natural patterns found in nature. However despite its complexity this technique allows it to be built up from simple flat sheets of timber.

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

We have developed the principle of using timber because it is economic, rugged, natural, efficient, reusable, renewable and has low embodied energy. Above all it is flexible in the way it can be used with different effects and techniques. Our use of recycled and reclaimed materials and energy saving technology will produce BREEAM ‘outstanding’ quality. This attitude will enable staff and visitors to experience the wonder of seeds, their geometry, their relationships, their power, and the processes required to harvest and germinate them.

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.

© Urban Salon Architects . Pubblicata il 23 Aprile 2009.