The Royal Botanic Gardens: Herbarium

A roof top extension to the 1980s D wing of the Grade II listed Herbarium building provided new specialist slide-making and laboratory space, as well much needed social and access accom­mod­ation. The work required the re-planning of the whole wing including the formation of a new reception at ground floor level. The extension was built over the Gardens’ invaluable collections of pressed plants and library facilities which remained operational throughout the project requiring high attention to detail in both design and project management.

The project included a new rooftop staff cafeteria, and resolved the disability access problem of the multiple inter­me­diate levels of the existing building complex with a new lift hub carefully fitted within an existing stairwell.

Planning restric­tions requiring minimum visibility from the nearby Kew Green and the client requirement to maximise height neces­sitated an innovative thin roof construction, incor­por­ating clerestory glazing to promote natural ventilation thought the building.