Urban Nature Project, Natural History Museum
The
Urban Nature Project reimagines the Natural History Museum’s 5-acre gardens to
increase biodiversity, accessibility, scientific research and best practice
outdoor nature-learning all year round. It has been designed as a response to
the urgent need to monitor and record changes to the UK's urban nature and to
develop skills to study in this field, as part of a national drive to re-engage
people with the natural world and urban wildlife. The project transforms an
underused garden into an urban oasis, creating significant new areas of habitat
and biodiversity, re-presenting the grounds as a living laboratory.
The design team worked closely with the Museum’s scientists to sensitively develop a series of outdoor living galleries providing opportunities to learn about and explore nature.
In the east this includes the new Evolution Garden, a journey from deep time to modern day. Where visitors can learn about 2.7 billion years of history of our planet, told through the immersive timeline of plants, rocks of different geological periods from across the UK, and representations of reptiles, birds, dinosaurs and mammals.
In the west these include Nature Discovery Garden supported by the Cadogan Charity which extends and enhances woodland, grassland, wetlands, and explores approaches to climate adaptation set within an urban forest of the future. Integrated into the landscape are two new buildings: the Nature Activity Centre, supported by Amazon Web Services, and the Garden Kitchen.
The Urban Nature Project represents an inspirational case study for repurposing urban spaces to increase biodiversity and provide urban cooling, offering recreational and wellbeing benefits and enabling scientific research to inspire people and in particular young people, to develop a love for nature and become the naturalists of the future.
Drawing © J&L Gibbons + Feilden FowlesPROJECT INFO
Client The Natural History Museum
Project The Urban Nature Project
Location South Kensington, London
Date 2019 - 2025
Area 2.03ha
Building Type Learning, cafe
Awards
2025 Winner - Excellence in Landscape Design - Landscape Institute Awards
2025 Gold Award Winner - Wood Awards
2025 Winner - Education & Public Sector - Wood Awards
2025 Winner - The Evolution Garden - Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Awards
2025 Winner - Nature Discovery Garden - Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Awards
2025 Regeneration Cup - Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Awards
2025 Biodiversity Commercial - Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Awards
2025 Winner - Building Project of the Year - Constructing Excellence Awards
2025 Winner - People’s Choice Award - Constructing Excellence Awards
2023 Silver - Europe Award - International Holcim Awards
CREDITS
Landscape Architect J&L Gibbons
Architect Feilden Fowles
3D Design Gitta Gschwendtner
Interpretation Designer Gitta Gschwendtner
Structural Engineer engineersHRW
M&E , Lighting and Acoustic Engineers Max Fordham
Project Management Mace
Quantity Surveyor Mace
Sustainability Consultant Mace
Planning Consultant Deloitte
Heritage Consultant Purcell
Access Consultant Earnescliffe
Civil Engineering Infrastruct CS
Pedestrian Flow Access Buro Happold
Specialist Planting Consultants Fossil Plants
Principal contractor Walter Lilly