Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh:
0131 552 7171 Address: 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5QH

Topping-out at the Botanics
John Hope Gateway, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place

21 May 2009

Richard Lochhead MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, officiated at the topping-out ceremony of the £15.6m John Hope Gateway visitor centre. Richard Lochhead toured the building with RBGE Regius Keeper, Professor Stephen Blackmore; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sir George Mathewson and Alex Miller, Managing Director, Xircon, the main contractor.

Progress Photos, 29 Mar 2009:


building images © Adrian Welch

Successful combination of materials and rhythms - horizontal stone bedding of the tower offset by the vertical timber boarding of the facades. Rigged canvas reminiscent of Michael Hopkins' buildings such as at Lords' Cricket ground or Ron Herron's roof at Imagination in London.


images © Adrian Welch

Floating timber canopy over the west entry to the gardens, slim timber columns denote where a glazed screen is to be positioned:


images © Isabelle Lomholt


images © Adrian Welch

The Visitor Centre started on site late Aug 2007 following confirmation of £10m funding from the Scottish Executive.

Images from Edward Cullinan Architects 170907:



Botanics Gateway : Edward Cullinan Architects

Botanics Gateway
RBGE - Building PR

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland
REVEALS CONCEPT DESIGNS FOR ITS NEW FACILITY
Your Gateway - unlocking plants for people
Concept designs for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s [RBGE] new visitor Gateway were given a preview today. The designs developed over the last 10 months by senior staff at the RBGE in partnership with Edward Cullinan Architects, give a projected idea of plans for a new visitor Gateway at the West Gate entrance to the Garden.


Gateway images from RBGE

A national treasure, RBGE is one of the most popular visitor sites in Scotland and one of the most respected and prestigious scientific organisations in the world. For some time now, the RBGE has recognised the need to invest in its visitor facilities as well as build far greater awareness of the Garden’s work. In July 2003, working in partnership with an architectural consultant, an RBGE team drew together a Europe-wide architect's competition. Edward Cullinan Architects were the successful competition winners and were appointed to the Gateway project.

Now reaching an exciting stage in the design process, the RBGE over the next few months will be looking to involve visitors and local residents in the process, by holding a public meeting and putting on display a model of the Gateway that will help to visualise the design concept. “We understand that our visitors have great attachment to the Garden and will want to be kept informed of the Gateway’s progress” said Dr Ian Edwards [Director of Public Programmes at the RBGE], “The designs are sympathetic to the Garden’s surroundings and minimise the impact on the landscape as much as possible” he continued.

As Professor Stephen Blackmore, RBGE’s Regius Keeper, said the Gateway will provide an avenue to build far greater understanding of the Garden’s work and also the vital role of plants play in our world: “The Gateway will, for the first time give public access to all the treasures of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and make it an
‘all-weather’ attraction. It will offer an unparalleled insight into the whole world of plants and their conservation, helping us to retain and build on our rightful prominence amongst Scotland’s most world-renowned institutions.”

Exhibitions and live interpretation will help orientate visitors and enable them to get the most from their visit. For the first time visitors will have glimpses at unique treasures held behind the scenes and hear the experts explain what they do and why it is important. There will also be opportunities for people of all ages to participate in activities that reveal the uniqueness of plants and demonstrate what we can do to make the world a greener place.

The Edinburgh Botanic Gardens Gateway will provide a first class attraction for everyone visiting the Garden to relax, explore and enjoy the world of plants and most importantly learn about nature on our planet whatever the weather.

National Botanic Gardens of Scotland: Building PR May 2004

The estimated cost of the building will be £13m. Edinburgh Botanic Gardens receives over 700,000 visitors a year and has three Regional Gardens [Benmore Botanic Garden, Logan Botanic Garden and Dawyck Botanic Garden] which together with the Garden in Edinburgh, are jointly known as the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is funded through grant-in-aid from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and is a registered charity. International Architecture Competition included Snøhetta, etc.: won by Edward Cullinan Architects Sep 2003: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Further info on the Royal Botanic Gardens contact: 0131 552 7171



Scottish Architecture

Botanic Gardens : Barcelona

Edinburgh Walking Tours

Edinburgh : back to index

Botanic Gardens : Glasgow Garage Site – Redevelopment

Previous Edinburgh 'project' by Edward Cullinan Architects: unbuilt architecture



RBGE: gateway@rbge.org.uk

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh : Photographs

Plant Houses, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Property Services Agency (PSA), 1967

Buildings / photos for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Architecture pages welcome: info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh : www.rbge.org.uk