PROJECTS | CULTURE | NEXT PROJECT Darwin Centre phase II The second phase of the Darwin Centre is an extension of the famous Natural History Museum in London, taking the form of a huge eight-storey concrete cocoon, surrounded by a glass atrium. The Natural History Museum is both one of the UK's top five visitor attractions, and a world-leading science research centre. The architecture of the Darwin Centre reflects this dual role, and reveals to the public for the first time the incredible range and diversity of the Museum's collections and the cutting-edge scientific research they support. The centerpiece is made to appear like a large silk cocoon, and forms the inner protective element that houses the museum’s unique collection of 17 million insects and 3 million plants. The shape and size give the visitor a tangible understanding of the volume of the collections contained within. The collections areas within the Cocoon are world class, the regulation of temperature and humidity reduce the risk of pest infestations ensuring that the collections will be protected and preserved for many years to come. The exposed thermal mass of the continuous sprayed reinforced concrete shell maintains a stable internal environment, and minimizes energy loading. Public access to the scientific core of the second phase of the Darwin Centre takes the form of a visitor route up and through the cocoon, overlooking the science and collection areas. Visitors can experience the Darwin Centre as a compelling and interactive learning space, observing the scientific and research activities without interrupting scientific work in progress. C. F. Møller Architects was chosen for the commission in 2001, in competition with 59 other international architectural firms. INFO Client The Natural History Museum Construction BAM Construct UK (main contractor) Engineering Arup (structural engineer) Fulcrum Consulting (services engineer) Buro Happold (fire) Architect C. F. Møller Architects Landscape C. F. Møller Architects Collaborators, other Turner and Townsend (cost consultant) Address Cromwell Road, London Size 16000 m2 Year 2002-2009, 2010 Competition year 2001 Prizes 2010 Shortlisted for Building Magazine - Project of the Year 2010 Shortlisted for the Conde Nast Innovation and Design Awards, in the Culture category 2010 Shortlisted for an Award in the RIBA London Region 2010 Winner of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Awards in the category Best Service Engineering Project: Large Firm 2009 Concrete Society Award - Overall Winner 2009 Plaisterers’ Trophy Awards, Winner of a ‘Highly Commended’ Award 2009 Structural Award for Arts or Entertainment Structures 2008 Nominated for the 'Mies van der Rohe Award 2009' 2001 1st prize in international competition - after prequalification References 2010 Darwin Centre anden fase 2010 Architecture & DETAIL 2010 nr. 2 Second Phase of the Darwin Centre 2010 Darwin Tidskrift: Temmuz 354 - august 2010, side 2 + 14 - 17 2010 IQD Inside Quality Design 2010 jan.-marts The architecure of evolution 2010 Tidskrift: KTIPIO - Apxitektonikh + Design # 7, 2010 Darwin side 20 - 23 2009 Byggeri #10, p. 38 2009 Glasmagasinet Transparent #1, forside + p. 12-14 2009 Tegl #2, p. 26-29 2009 Architecture & Culture #342, p. 56-67 2009 Baumeister #B7, p. 34-41 2009 Concept #127, p. 76-83 (Korea) 2009 Concrete #10, p. 14-18 2009 Designer & Designing #11: Contemporary Designers of Honkong and Taiwan, p. 60 - 67 2009 Mur + Betong #1, p. 58-60 2009 Natural History Museum, Evolve #1 p. 20-28 2008 Arkitekten #3, p. 36-41, article by Anna Maria Indrio 2008 Byggeri + Arkitektur #24, p. 50-51 2008 AJ Specification, November 2008, p. 14-25 2008 Building Magazine, p. 45-50 2008 Concrete Quaterly #226, p. 12-15 2008 The Observer Magazine p. 38-47 2006 Global Danish Architecture #1, p. 162 - 165 2006 Nykredits Arkitekturpris 1997-2006, p. 123, 126-127 2004 ark.byg #8, p. 46 - 48 2004 Arkitektur DK, #2, p. 210 2004 Building Design: The Møller's Tale. 2004 Arkitektfirmaet C. F. Møller: Samfund og Menneske 2003 Arkitekten #7, p. 23 2003 Hugh Aldersey-Williams: Zoomorphic. New animal architecture, p. 76-77 2002 Arkitekten #1, p. 9 Dansk kokon i London 2002 Arkitekten #4, p. 2-5 En svævende puppe