A new visitor centre, exhibition, restaurant and educational facilities for world-renowned botanic gardens, set within a sensitive green belt landscape.

• The innovative, ecologically based and sustainable design incorporates a highly insulated lightweight timber frame construction, a ‘green’ roof, natural lighting, passive stack ventilation and recycled rainwater.
• Key requirements were flexibility, ease of management and disabled access. Major improvements were also made to existing buildings, pedestrian and vehicular access and external garden areas.
• Demonstration of special circumstances and detailed studies of environmental impact allowed planning permission for development within the green belt.

Client: The University of Liverpool