New Urban Oasis Created At The Natural History Museum

The previously underused 5-acre gardens around the Natural History Museum in London have been remarkably transformed in a scheme by architects Feilden Fowles. Working closely with landscape  architects J & L Gibbons, and a design team including Gitta Gschwendtner, engineers HRW and Max  Fordham, a new urban oasis has been created alongside a Nature Activity Centre supported by AWS  and Garden Kitchen café.

The project rejuvenates the grounds of this well-loved museum and creates  an immersive timeline of the evolution of the earth which is now fully accessible for the first time.  Geological eras are represented in banded strata of rock and the garden now features a full-size  bronze Diplodocus called Fern. The result is a tactile living laboratory called the Urban Nature Project.  

The Nature Activity Centre and Garden Kitchen blend in harmony with the green space and have  been designed in close association with the museum’s scientists with thought and care, using natural  materials with low embodied carbon. The frame is created from UK limestone under a Douglas fir roof  with cedar shingles. Douglas fir doors, windows and columns adorn the inside. Working with acoustic  consultants Max Fordham, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels have been utilised through the  ceilings to help combat reverberating sound and create a calm and welcoming atmosphere.  

Troldtekt’s wood wool acoustic panels are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at Gold level and manufactured  using wood from certified forests (PEFC/09-31-030 and FSC®C115450), positively contributing to a  building’s BREEAM, WELL or LEED points. Panels can also be manufactured with FUTURECEM®  which achieves an approx. 30 per cent lower carbon footprint than that of Troldtekt based on white  cement. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as  B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.  

Available in a wide variety of different structures and colours, they combine optimal sound absorption  with an award-winning design. The Troldtekt range has a minimum expected life cycle of 60 years  coupled with excellent resistance to humidity and tested to meet ball impact standards. Panels can be  supplied as natural wood, unpainted based on FUTURECEM™ offering a reduced carbon footprint or  finished in almost any RAL or NCS colour.   

Samples, case studies and technical guidance are available from www.troldtekt.co.uk or see our  product listings on NBS (https://bit.ly/3vxoTfq) or Material Bank (www.materialbank.eu). 

Keller Unveils Affordable, Bio-Based Contract Kitchen Range - A First In The Industry

Keller Kitchens, long recognised as an industry leader in kitchen sustainability, is taking a bold leap forward. In early 2026, the Dutch kitchen specialist is set to launch an entirely new range that combines carbon-neutral manufacturing with biobased materials and affordability; a first in the industry.

enduura® elba is a truly sustainable kitchen solution. This innovative range will debut in four on-trend colours, carefully curated to meet the evolving demands of today’s design-conscious market. All wood materials are sourced from sustainably managed European forests, fully compliant with the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), ensuring responsible harvesting practices that support biodiversity and ecological balance. enduura® elba is not only sustainable; it’s circular. Designed with the future in mind, every element is suitable for repurposing. One standout feature is Keller’s exclusive biobased binder, derived from natural by-products, which enables the production of kitchens with zero material waste.

The outer surfaces not only look stunning; they are crafted using cutting-edge technology, new to the industry, that delivers a highly durable, long-lasting finish. Tim Spann, National Sales Manager at Keller Kitchens, explains, “I’ve always been proud to work with a company leading the way in sustainability within our industry. This development marks a truly game-changing moment, especially for the contract market and retailers, focused on sustainability. We’re entering a new era where carbon-neutral manufacturing meets bio-based products, all at an accessible price point. What’s not to love?” 

Keller Kitchens turns 90 – shaping tomorrow’s kitchen living 

Not only does Keller continue to push boundaries with innovations such as the enduura® elba, but it does so with a legacy of craftsmanship and environmental responsibility. Founded 90 years ago in the south west of Holland, Keller has grown into a leading kitchen brand across the Netherlands, UK and beyond. With over 200 dealers, Keller delivers stylish, smart, and planet-conscious kitchens designed for real life. The company has been carbon neutral since 2017, is powered by 8,000 solar panels, and uses nearshore, renewable materials, water-based treatments, and robotic warehousing to minimise waste. For further information, please visit www.kellerkitchens.com

A Work Of Art: CRL Stone’s Venetian Grande Worktop Takes Centre Stage In This Stunning Kitchen Renovation

Galway-based artist Ciara O’Neill’s new kitchen was always going to be something special. With a degree in Interior Design, the contemporary artist has a real eye for colour, which features in many rooms throughout her house. So, when it came to designing her new kitchen, she knew a more muted, neutral palette would provide the perfect balance. 

“I wanted to create a relaxed neutral space because the other areas of my home have vibrant pops of colour,” Ciara explains. However, she also wanted to introduce an eye-catching feature to her new kitchen. “I wanted the space to have an added element of surprise with the unique countertop.”

Working with Irish-based interior architecture and design practice Dubh House Studio, she set about creating a chic kitchen featuring a cleverly concealed breakfast pantry under the stairs, a sliding door on the back wall and hidden storage under the navy peninsula, which is topped with a simply stunning quartz worktop from CRL Stone. “I went for bleached oak and white cabinets with white pendants and a polished concrete floor to tie in with my quartz countertop,” Ciara continues.

The beautiful, natural oak cabinetry was meticulously manufactured by Kevin Butler Joinery, and a visit to Not Just Granite’s showroom provided the inspiration for the worktops, which Ciara wanted to take centre stage in her new kitchen. “The most important element was to incorporate an item that was a focal point, which is my quartz countertop because of all the different quartz stones within it.”

Part of CRL Stone’s quartz collection, Venetian Grande features and unmistakable Terrazzo design and is the perfect partner to pale woods and neutral colours. “It literally jumped out at me in Not Just Granite’s showroom,” Ciara remembers. “I knew I wanted white in my countertop but everything I was looking at I had seen before until I saw this. I’m instantly drawn to things that stand out and look different and this quartz was the right match for my space.”

“I love how you can see each chunk of stone is different with different shades, especially at the edges of the counter where you can see the quartz stones in full.” Ciara loved CRL Stone’s Venetian Grande so much that she even used it to create an eye-catching light box, which she uses to display some of her artwork. With a reduced depth, which increases the translucency of the stones and lets the light shine through, this backlit surface makes a striking addition to any interior.

The installation of the worktops was quick and seamless with the team from Not Just Granite taking only a day and a half to install CRL Stone’s stunning Venetian Grande on the worktops, splashback and peninsula. “Every detail was perfect from the waterfall edge to the backsplash to the draining board. Once everything was in place it just brought the complete look of the kitchen together,” Ciara says. www.crlstone.co.uk