Mace is PM and QS on project designed by Feilden Fowles
The Natural History Museum was been given the go-ahead from Kensington and Chelsea council to transform its gardens under plans drawn up by Feilden Fowles and which will be project managed by Mace.
The architect, working with landscape practice J&L Gibbons, replaced Niall McLaughlin on the job after a change of heart 鈥� and budget 鈥� by the client.
McLaughlin and Kim Wilkie won a competition back in 2014 with proposals that gained planning in 2016.
But the South Kensington museum later retendered the project saying a 鈥渃onsiderable amount of time had passed since the original competition and substantial changes have been made to the original concept鈥�.
A change of management was also understood to be behind the decision, with a spokeswoman saying: 鈥淚t was also crucial that any plans reflect the museum鈥檚 ambitious new strategy, a key element of which is to ensure the best care and conservation for the existing habitats across the gardens.鈥�
But she said elements of McLaughlin鈥檚 design were being retained 鈥渟pecifically the work on the main entrance to provide step-free access in a way that is sympathetic to our grade I-listed building鈥�.
As well as PM, Mace is QS and sustainability consultant on the project.
Purcell has acted as the heritage consultant, while Max Fordham and Buro Happold are also on the project team.
Feilden Fowles first revealed its proposals for a scaled-back revamp of the Natural History Museum鈥檚 grounds in May.
Called the Urban Nature Project, the scheme focuses on increasing biodiversity in the five-acre grounds which surround the museum building, as well as making them more accessible.
The proposal includes gardens that create 鈥渋mmersive educational experiences鈥�, a variety of habitats, a small building with a caf茅 and space for garden storage and plant displays plus a new learning and activity centre.
No comments yet