Millennium Seedbank - Wakehurst Place           Architect - Stanton Williams
2001 - RIBA award for architecture
2001 - Design Sense Sustainability Award

   The Millennium Seedbank is a Kew Gardens sponsored international conservation initiative. By housing seeds from around the world, this project is dedicated to preserving thousands of plant species to save them from extinction.



The Winter Garden provides contemporary exhibition facilities and creating a lighting concept to fit the calm feel of this space was crucial. Metal halide projectors are housed 300mm behind the aperture to ensure any glare is reduced, while the fittings dapple the floor below.

  

The philosophy behind the building design is a 200 year life span. Accordingly, the lamps used offer a 10,000 hour life to keep maintenance and running costs to a minimum.



Every fitting is directional to offer total lighting flexibility within the exhibition space. The application of metal screens also provides the facility for mechanical dimming.   A ‘bombproof’ approach within the vault areas lights the space using fluorescent and bulkhead fittings.