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The
Davies Alpine House - Kew Gardens, UK
Architect
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Wilkinson
Eyre
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Date Built
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2006
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Location
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Kew
Gardens
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Description
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The architects say of
the structure that,
"The glasshouse is
conceived as two back-to-back arches
which create a stack effect to draw warm
air out of the building. Below ground
level, air is pushed into a concrete
labyrinth for cooling, and then
recirculated around the perimeter of the
house via a series of displacement
pipes. Further environmental control is
provided by a unique shading solution
based on a fan-like form similar to a
peacock’s tail."
It is the first glasshouse commissioned at
Kew in two decades. The RIBA website
says that,
"The synthesis of
structure, surface, and environmental
control combine to provide an enclosure
worthy of the history of the great
botanical structures at Kew."
It was considered for the Stirling Award
short list.
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