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Benmore Herbarium

Part 1 Project 2014
Ewan Hooper
 Mackintosh School of Architecture | UK
Herbaria exist in a strange dichotomy between extinction and revelation, holding both endangered and unknown precious plants from around the world; they are a cross between a museum of priceless artefacts and a warehouse of birth certificates for plants. They are places of discovery: containing, collecting, expanding and protecting our knowledge. They are essential facilities for our world, the conservation of biodiversity is one of our planet’s most pressing and complex issues. Society needs information about the identities, characteristics, and requirements of plants and their ecosystems in order to understand and wisely manage the planet that we live on.

Benmore Herbarium accommodates staff, artists, international research specialists and the general public. The Herbarium focuses on the study of botany through art. Here the act of drawing is also about learning; artists and visitors study specimens and their creative input allows them to gain a deeper understanding of our world.

The design has an essential cultural role in re-establishing people’s connection with nature through its collection of specimens and also through the qualities of Benmore Botanical Gardens.

The architecture immerses itself in the site’s secretive and spectacular character allowing people to experience its sensory and experiential qualities. Manmade interventions create a series of profoundly differing natural experiences for staff and visitors; walkways weave through the topography along and over rivers, introverted concrete spaces en-tomb users surrounding them with specimens frozen in time, lightweight steel and timber volumes dramatically cantilever out towards tree tops and the distant landscape. These experiences contribute to a powerful succession creating a meaningful sense of place and space. A spiritual atmosphere captures people’s imagination as they interact with the preserved relics of nature amongst the wild nature surrounding them.

Throughout my undergraduate studies I have focused on creating architecture that comes from a contemporary response to people and place. I believe that a design process that focuses on people, context, light and materials and the emotive possibilities of architecture leads to form and space that is truly memorable and inspirational.

Working with these principles Benmore Herbarium creates a bespoke, emotive and imaginative place where people can thrive.


Tutor(s)
2014
A plant specimen is delivered to Benmore Herbarium; it is carried up a processional pathway that weaves its way through the dramatic topography of Benmore Botanical Gardens. Although it is at the end of its journey it is only just beginning its processing
Upon arrival the specimen is taken through a strict scientific processing system: information is extracted, it is frozen to kill any infestations and it is then dried to preserve the specimen. It is completely frozen in time at this point and will never b
The Herbarium itself is a solid concrete ‘L’ shape embedded into and protected by the ground while another solid volume sits across the burn which runs through the site. Two steel framed, timber ‘telescopes’ connect into this volume cantilevered out from
The building captures the specific sensory qualities of the site: light filtering through the canopy, the burn running through the site and the embracing feeling from the surrounding trees, bringing users close to living nature while studying the specimen
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan & Long Section
The sectional perspective illustrates the three varying section types through the architecture and its basic structural principles. The first section shows one of the timber telescopes clasped by the L-shaped herbarium while the other telescope cantilever
Exploded perspective highlighting the four main elements of the design and their parts. The steel and timber volumes use a tectonic form of architecture creating transient and lightweight structures which allow for the structural gymnastics and open conne
Detailed section and peeled back 3D detail revealing the tectonic nature of the steel and timber volumes’ construction.
Sustainability and longevity were key factors that influenced the design. Alongside simple principles such as form and orientation, a louver system was devised in tandem with a cyclical natural ventilation strategy which works year round. It allows for co
Sectional model through solid concrete spaces. Here spaces become much more introverted, carved out and about the independent study and processing of the specimens. Light comes from above and illuminates the workspaces creating enclosures for contemplatio
View down one of the telescopes in the exhibition space. The repetitive nature of the grid system and repeated structural elements leads the eye towards the views down the valley. It is as if the structure could repeat and extend forever into the landscap
Inside the other telescope the steel columns extend down and fix onto the L-shaped herbarium volume below to create a double height studio space. Here artists can utilise the double height space and large floor area below to work on large canvases. The lo
A special herbarium cabinet drawer was designed specifically for the Benmore Herbarium. The ergonomic design of the drawers allows for easy and careful handling of specimens in and out of the drawers. The front lip of the drawer folds up as the drawers ar
The drawers were designed to allow for pre-fabrication of the individual drawer elements which are then inserted into the cast in-situ concrete wall. The concrete’s hygroscopic and solid structural properties help to protect the specimens in a cool stable
• Page Hits: 16700         • Entry Date: 25 September 2014         • Last Update: 25 September 2014