Darwin Centre Historic Collection
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Ash staves and slats support the drawer units
Berman Guedes Stretton (website) Download Original
Storage system at the Natural History Museum that protects and displays the herbology and entomology collections in an atmospherically controlled environment
The units were built to protectand display Sir Hans Sloane's and Joseph Banks' herbology and entomology collections in the Darwin Centre.
The brief required a contemporary display and science space that reflected the historic nature of the specimen volumes, and the design was inspired by organic forms in the natural world. Made from laminated ash with stainless steel components the design uses materials to mediate between new and old.
Each of the three hundred individual volumes are stored in custom-made specimen drawers. Two windows from the main gallery allow visitors to view scientists at work.
Data
- Begun: Mar 2009
- Completed: Jul 2009
- Floor area: 83m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £250,000
- Funding: Private
- Procurement: GC Works
- Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Berman Guedes Stretton
- Project architect: Gary Collins
- Client: The Natural History Museum
- Structural engineer: Fothergill
- Lighting consultant: Sutton Vane Associates
- Services consultant: Applied Energy
- Cost consultant: Turner and Townsend
- Project manager: Cultural Innovations
- Main contractor: Opus Magnum
Suppliers
- Shelving system, drawers and components: Avonite Surfaces
- Drawer unit runners: Abel Magnets
- Resin floor: Altro
- Gas springs to lids: Industrial Gas Springs
