NATIONAL
BOTANIC GARDENS OF SCOTLAND
PRESS RELEASE
The National Botanic Gardens of Scotland are located at Edinburgh, Benmore,
Logan and Dawyck |
The
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's mission is to explore and explain
the world of plants
A
GATEWAY TO EXCELLENCE
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Announces Architect Contest Winner The Royal Botanic
Garden Edinburgh [RBGE], in association with the RIAS Consultancy from
the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, today announced the
winner of the competition to select an architect for its new visitor
gateway facility. Edward Cullinan Architects based in London, are now
commissioned to develop designs for its first-ever purpose built visitor
facility at the West Gate [Arboretum Place] entrance to the Garden.
Professor Stephen
Blackmore, RBGE Regius Keeper, said;
"This is
a really exciting time for us. Over 660,000 visitors come to the Garden
each year. Many are unaware that we are a world leader in plant research
and global conservation. With a new visitor facility we will have
the chance to explain the importance of plants and the important role
of RBGE. I am delighted Edward Cullinan Architects have been appointed
and all of us at the Garden look forward to collaborating with them
in the development of an iconic building that will have all the facilities
that you would expect from one of the world's major heritage sites".
Established in 1670
as a physic garden beside Holyrood house before moving in 1820 to its
present site at Inverleith [just one mile north of the City Centre],
the Garden, which is the third most visited attraction in Edinburgh,
occupies over 72 acres and is home to over 15,500 plant species. Acknowledged
to be one of the top five botanic gardens in the world, the RBGE primary
remit is as an internationally renowned scientific centre dedicated
to the study and conservation of plants. Gordon Murray, President
of the RIAS and one of the judges, added; "This is
a significant architectural competition for Scotland and accords
well with the RIAS and Scottish Executive Architecture Policy objective
of promoting competitions as a means of
achieving design quality and of matching client ambitions with a
suitable architect. It is an indication that the profession in Scotland
is in good health with a local practice on the shortlist of four
from an international field of stature. The purpose of the competition
was to select an architect who understood the aspirations of the
client and who could deliver a facility commensurate with the Gardens
status as a visitor attraction and as an internationally renowned
centre of excellence. We are sure that with Edward Cullinan Architects,
RBGE have now found that
architect." Launched in April
2003, the competition saw over 60 submissions from all over Europe from
which a shortlist of ten applicants was chosen before four finalists
[Hopkins Architects, Edward Cullinan Architects, Wilkinson Eyre and
Richard Murphy Architects], were asked to present ideas and design strategies.
Professor Blackmore continued; "The high
standard of final submissions was overwhelming which made the decision
difficult but Edward Cullinan Architects demonstrated a clear understanding
of what the Gardens new
visitor gateway must achieve. They considered the challenges that
the facility needs to overcome, gave consideration to the sensitivities
of its surroundings and understood that the facility should be a
means to exploring our unique living collections". The brief for the
new buildings which will include innovative interpretation and orientation
facilities, events spaces, restaurant and retail outlets is to be developed
to design stage over the coming months.
Visit
the new website for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Press
relese © 2002
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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