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In 2002, the Natural History Museum in London, England opened a new addition. The Charles Darwin centre design by HOK International sits beside the landmark Romanesque revival Natural History Museum building. It uses “architecture parlante” to indicated what’s going on inside.
A massive triple-skin solar wall with sun-tracking metal louvers that render an ever-changing appearance reflect the museum displays of nature inside. This solar chimney naturally controls the building’s temperature while controlling daylighting. A lightweight inflated roof system also speaks of sustainability and natural flows. From the public atrium, the visitor can see the building’s organization as a whole and then explore its many parts. The second phase of the development, by C. F. Møller Architects, will be a “cacoon” for the collection’s insects and plants, and contain a research facility. This is due to open in September 2009. It visually links the historic Waterhouse building and the phase one building. The large curved “cacoon” which securely holds the collection is trapped inside a glass facade. The visitor walks around the inbetween space of this 8 story atrium. |
(Son of Groucho– flickr/creative commons license)
(veritatem– flickr/creative commons license)
(dalbera– flickr/creative commons license)
(OliverN5– flickr/creative commons license)
