Darwin Centre Phase II in London, United Kingdom

July 01, 2010 Category: Cultural, Public Buildings

The Darwin Centre Phase II designed by C. F. MOLLER is located in London, United Kingdom. extension to the Natural History Museum in London, designed by C. F. Møller Architects, has been announced as Overall Winner of the 2009 Concrete Society Awards for Excellence in Concrete.

It is the building’s iconic cocoon structure, formed from sprayed in-situ concrete, which convinced the judging panel. A high degree of innovation and co-operation in the design and construction process was necessary to achieve the extremely demanding outcome.

The brief for the building had three key objectives: to provide a home for 20 million plant and insect specimens, to provide a working area for the research scientists and to enable the public to interact with the scientists and the collections. This has been achieved by providing visitors with an opportunity to go on self-guided tours in and around the cocoon, which gives glimpses of the research facility and the extent of the collections.

Darwin Centre Phase II by C. F. MOLLER Exterior 1