Competition Winner: Ian Simpson Architects

 

 

Set in the tranquil Court Hey Park, the Centre exists to raise awareness of wildflowers and to promote the creation of new wildflower habitats. The design was the winner in 2009 of an RIBA competition for a new sustainable visitor attraction with planting workshops. The proposals are inspired by the natural environment and the organic morphology is fully integrated with its landscape context. The Fibonacci series which predicts the geometry of growth in the natural world has been used as an underlying principle to inspire the architecture.

 

The dynamic form of the scheme is generated from the composition of two primary elements that together embody physical and intellectual links with the landscape. A sweeping 'rammed-earth' wall is a boundary with the gardens that draws visitors to a generous glazed entrance foyer. Taking its form from the symmetry of a flower head, the main exhibition space is captured as a single elegant volume. The glazed oculus at its apex is both a source of daylight and a feature of its natural ventilation. A multiplicity of reflective 'petals' focus sunlight towards lenses in the envelope that create a dazzling display internally.

 

The proposals are designed to be carbon-neutral in operation and to achieve an 'Outstanding' BREEAM rating. The sustainability strategy depends on passive measures to reduce energy demand which include exceptional thermal insulation, natural ventilation and an 'earth tube' heat sink. The residual energy demand is met by harnessing on-site renewable sources, including wind and solar power.

 

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Grant Luscombe, Chief Executive of Landlife said "Ian Simpson has designed a beautiful addition to our National Wildflower Centre, thanks to North West Development Agency support and its commitment to sustainable development. As a result, I find it a really exciting prospect that Knowsley, the borough internationally acclaimed for making new wildflower meadows, will now also become home to the greenest conference venue in the country."

Ian Simpson, Director of Ian Simpson Architects said "We are delighted to have won this international design competition which has underpinned our commitment to an integrated approach, combining truly sustainable design with beautiful architecture."

 

To visit Ian Simpson Architects website click here