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). 

SterlingOSB Zero Is A Picnic For Architects

As the annual SterlingOSB Zero/RIBAJ competition celebrated its 10th anniversary, the 2025 competition entitled Powers of Ten, challenged architects to explore the principles of scale. Entrants were unrestricted by building standards and were free to play with the concept of scale and design a structure from competition sponsor West Fraser's SterlingOSB Zero.

  Pictured is West Fraser's marketing manager, David Connacher, and Steve McCloy

This year's commended winners, Steve McCloy and C J Lim of McCloy + Muchemwa Architects, created a giant picnic table complete with deckchairs, cakes, and teapots as a memorial for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The architects imagined the children's play structure as a permanent fixture in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Here Steve McCloy talks about the commended winning entry and what SterlingOSB Zero provides architects.

Q. What inspired your design for the competition?

Our design was inspired by children's books and literature. We looked at the way that, in stories such as Alice in Wonderland, the change of scale is the moment where the child enters a new world of imagination. We find, as architects, that shift of perception or that imaginative leap is most inspiring for our work. So, whether we're designing a house or a public building or an installation, imagination is the most important point.

Q. What do you like about SterlingOSB Zero?

Something that we've noticed that is really important compared to other materials like plywood, is that OSB is extremely durable and resilient for outdoor installations, public artworks, and temporary purposes, so it's been really useful for us, doing budget projects.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com

Concave Sliding Door Creates Unique Curved Garage Space In Redevelopment Project

A bespoke curved side sliding timber garage door by Rundum Meir has enabled a unique feature garage to be created as part of the extensive remodelling of a large private dwelling in southern England. A Rundum Original sliding garage door spanning 8m wide and 2.2m high was integrated within the new designs by BWP Architects for a major property renovation, transforming a house which had evolved in an uncoordinated and poorly designed way. 

The door provides access to a large garage space below the property’s garden level and its shape coordinates elegantly with a car turntable installed immediately in front and surrounding landscaping. The owner tasked BWP with bringing new life to the property which has many original features. 

Undoing of previous conversion and extension work was necessary to enable the rebuilding of the residential property to a significantly higher standard, complete with the feature garage. An existing detached garage to the rear was partially demolished and converted to create a private formal rear courtyard. 

The replacement curved garage is a stunning visual element, with the new automated Rundum Original door’s high quality Larch complemented by bronze coloured bespoke balustrading to add a dramatic and artistic feature to the access stair and upper courtyard over the garage. The Rundum Original side sliding door is automated using two door mounted MZ4 drives which are custom made to automate these bespoke doors. 

These motors allow the door to traverse the curving tracks smoothly and quietly as required for this project. The door was designed in conjunction with Rundum Meir’s UK team before being hand-crafted by its garage door experts. Every door is made to order to the highest standards using responsibly sourced materials and installed by Rundum Meir to provide an end-to-end service. 

Danesch Missaghian, Director of Rundum Meir (UK) said: “Not only is this exciting project completed using very high specification products throughout, but it is also designed superbly with the architects using a curved garage door in an interesting way that maximises vehicular access." "We are delighted with the contribution our door has made to the success of this project.” In addition to a range of different timber species, bespoke Rundum Original side sliding garage doors can be manufactured in high strength extruded aluminium and finished in any RAL colour. 

This makes these garage doors suitable for any domestic, commercial or public application, with the scope for architects to think differently about how the space for a garage can be integrated into the wider building design.  www.rundumgaragedoors.co.uk