PROJECTS

The Temperate House first opened to visitors in 1862 and is the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. It comprises five interconnecting pavilions formed of iron, glass, stucco and timber casements. Despite being extensively renovated between 2013-2018, the building still relies on fossil fuels to heat the space.

Alongside our subconsultants, we have developed a comprehensive solution to address the reliance on fossil fuels and consider both existing and future needs of the glasshouse heating system. The proposed heating system comprises air source and water source heat pumps arranged in a two-stage cascade system. All the equipment will be housed in new open-air enclosures. The design of these enclosures draws inspiration from crinkle-crankle walls which were used in Suffolk and Hampshire during the 18th century to improve lateral stability and reduce the amount of material required. Vertical louvres set out in a sinusoidal, serpentine form help to disguise the mechanical equipment within the natural setting of the tree canopies behind. The proposals emulate the design language and materiality of the nearby Irrigation Pumphouse, completed by Hugh Broughton Architects in 2024.

Planning consent has been granted and work has started on site, with completion expected in June 2026.

A key component of Kew Gardens sustainability strategy is the development of site-wide irrigation strategies, with a commitment to seek every opportunity to maximise the use of rainwater to irrigate the precious Living Collections. The strategic Irrigation Masterplan has been developed by Hugh Broughton Architects in collaboration with engineers Stantec and a variety of experts and stakeholders. The masterplan sets out a series of measures to improve understanding of climate and water usage through the installation of SMART meters, soil moisture sensors and a dedicated climate reference station. These measures will help to understand where water is being used and drive waste reduction and the effectiveness of irrigation strategies.

Actions defined by the masterplan are being implemented over a number of years and include a range of small, medium and large scale interventions that improve both the infrastructure and an understanding of sustainable water usage.

The first completed projects in the masterplan include the new Irrigation Pump House, a range of detailed bathymetry surveys of water bodies, new water metering, reinstatement of disused rainwater harvesting tanks, a pilot project for soil moisture sensors and autonomous irrigation, new weather monitoring stations, and strategic thinking into the impact of long-term landscape-led solutions on irrigation demand.

Here’s a tightened version at approximately 180 words, keeping a clear, professional tone suitable for a website:

In 2021, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew launched its sustainability strategy with the ambition of becoming climate positive by 2030. Central to achieving this goal is the upgrade of Kew’s buildings and infrastructure, focusing on decarbonising energy use and improving thermal performance.

The Princess of Wales Conservatory, opened in 1987, was innovative for its time and incorporated several sustainable design principles. Its stepped glass roofs were designed to collect solar energy and rainwater, reducing heat load and reliance on mains water, while partially embedding the building within the landscape helped limit heat loss. However, the conservatory currently depends on fossil fuels to maintain the specialist environments required for its plant collections. Over time, deterioration of the building fabric has also reduced its energy efficiency and performance.

Hugh Broughton Architects have developed a comprehensive and sensitive proposal to address these challenges, targeting a reduction in energy consumption of up to 50%. The scheme balances the current and future needs of the glasshouse while enhancing sustainability, functionality and longevity.

The proposed solution replaces fossil fuel heating with a cascade system of air source and water source heat pumps, housed within a new building inspired by the original conservatory design. Internal upgrades will further reduce energy demand, extend the building’s lifespan and improve the visitor experience.

The new leaf-inspired pump house is the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s first step in their new sustainability-focused irrigation strategy developed by Hugh Broughton Architects and engineers Stantec. Hidden in a mound below one of the garden’s most iconic attractions, the Treetop Walkway, a buried tank stores 280,000 litres of irrigation water. The new pump house is perched directly above this tank to ensure the irrigation network has a constant reliable ‘heartbeat’. In the future, by adding harvested rainwater, Kew’s gardeners will massively reduce their reliance on mains water, preserving precious resources whilst setting a new standard for environmental stewardship in horticulture.

As the pump house is in full-view within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the expressive architectural enclosure draws upon a grand tradition of marrying innovative engineering and decorative architecture within the gardens.

Inspiration came from Kew’s incredible living collections, fallen leaves and palm fronds. A design was developed which uses filigree visual screens made from interlocking Scottish-grown Larch struts arrayed into an oval-shaped plan. The timber elements are detailed and specified to age naturally to a silver colour and to play with the dappled light and shadows of surrounding trees, so the resulting architecture both complements the landscape and camouflages the inner workings of the infrastructure.

The pier head offers a blank canvas for a dynamic venue where people can take part in an ever-changing cycle of events, designed to suit all ages and interests. A modular design has been developed to suit this approach and enable construction within a short time frame. Timber clad modules are used to define a sequence of places. The spatial layout of these modules provides a balance between shelter and space. Views in and out of the new modules are carefully framed and aligned to local and distant landmarks. The deck itself is conceived as the landscape that glues together the family of buildings.

A new cultural facility provides the focal point at the end of the main axis but it is not conceived as the sole raison d’etre of the project. Instead this is the mother ship of the new activity-based cultural offer, which supports and feeds the range of satellite activities dotted around the landscape. A curved culture craft, softly illuminated at night, hovers above the rectilinear forms of the modules and, through its contrasting design, creates a new cultural identity at the end of the pier.

The courtyard at the Wallace Collection was covered with a glazed roof in 2000 as part of the Centenary Project. At the upper / ground level it provides a pleasant and popular terrace restaurant with 75 covers. The terrace is also used for functions accommodating up to 300 guests. A servery / bar is discreetly located in the north west corner of the courtyard. Despite its success, acoustically the courtyard functions below expectations with a long reverberation time causing unacceptable echoes.

In March 2005 Hugh Broughton Architects won a design competition to investigate the extent of the acoustic problems within the courtyard, and introduce measures to improve the acoustics. This is achieved through the introduction of six based fixed canopies incorporating acoustically absorbent material behind a veil of light diffusing fabric.

In addition to the acoustic performance of the courtyard, other elements such as task lighting and the relocation of the fountain have been addressed to widen the appeal of the courtyard for evening functions.

The appointment followed a limited competition for the phased refurbishment of the gallery. Hugh Broughton Architects developed a masterplan and then work was carried out throughout the estate of the National Galleries of Scotland to enable relocation of activities from the main gallery to free up additional display space.

The first project comprised the conversion and extension of the Cemetery Lodge into the Public Affairs Department with the creation of open plan offices and a simple steel, oak and glass meeting room overlooking a peaceful private garden. In the next project the Gallery of Modern Art Lodge was refurbished and extended for the Buildings Department. An elegant contemporary pavilion has been placed between the listed lodge and a stone boundary wall, providing a delicate counterpoise between new and old structures.

Finally, planning consent was obtained  for the upgrade and extension of the Dean Lodge to provide additional space for the Development Department. The scheme adopted a similar architectural palette to the previous projects.

In 2007 we also carried out feasibility studies to analyse the spatial impact of the acquisition of the Anthony D’Offay Collection, a joint venture between Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.

Dugal Campbell originally designed Mills Mount Restaurant at Edinburgh Castle as cart sheds in 1746. It was subsequently used as army barracks before its current use. The building was extended with the addition of the Jacobite Room in 1992 and it is owned by Historic Scotland. The restaurant forms part of the Scheduled Ancient Monument, which has up to one million visitors a year. It is used as a restaurant by day and for regular night functions throughout the year. Our scheme addressed shortfalls in appearance, layout and circulation. Through the introduction of full height glazed openings in the positions of original doors, the activity within was revealed to visitors walking around the castle.

Kitchen facilities have been rationalised and pulled away from the main façade. The five gable ends have been opened up with 2.7 metre high clear glass doors in each. Internally the café and servery area of the restaurant have been paved in limestone with the dining areas finished with an oak floor. Servery elements are made in stainless steel and black granite. Suspended tensile fabric canopies reduce the volume over the seating area. New furniture, finishes and doors compliment the modern expression of the intervention. A dramatic lighting scheme ensures that the restaurant appears bright in the day and animated by night.