Urban Nature Project Awarded Silver Prize at Holcim Foundation Awards
Walter Lilly is delighted to share that the Natural History Museum’s Urban Nature Project was awarded the silver prize for Europe at the recent Holcim Foundation Awards for Sustainable Construction.
The field was exceptionally strong with over 1,200 applications, only 500 of which were shortlisted by the judging panels. The project was considered alongside 120 schemes from within Europe, making it a great achievement to ultimately be selected!
A key part of the Urban Nature Project is the redevelopment of the Museum’s five-acre gardens. An Evolution Garden will tell the history of life on Earth, and the Nature Discovery Garden will encourage visitors to connect with nature whilst considering the future of our planet. The grounds will also include research and function spaces for visitors to enjoy including a new Nature Activity Centre supported by AWS and a Garden Kitchen. The gardens are central to the Museum’s wider urban nature movement that is helping to give people across the UK, no matter who they are or where they live, the skills and tools to safeguard nature in towns and cities.
Targeting Practical Completion next year, we are thrilled to see the project already receiving international recognition by sustainability experts. The Holcim jury applauded the project’s dedication to repurposing urban spaces to increase biodiversity alongside the use of immersive, engaging designs to create learning and educational opportunities for the general public. The project’s commitment to su
stainability, ethical material sourcing, and the reuse of excess materials on site was also recognised and commended by all.
The collaborative project team have worked closely with Museum experts and external partners from the UK Conservation Sector to protect existing wildlife, create thriving new habitats, and deliver the Museum’s Net Zero Carbon strategy for the project.
We are extremely proud to be delivering this benchmark scheme which is setting a fantastic example for sustainable construction and its many possibilities. Well done to all involved, including the winning team comprising the Natural History Museum (Client), Fielden Fowles (Architect) and J&L Gibbons (Landscape Architect).