CULLINAN STUDIOJohn Hope Gateway

The John Hope Gateway has made a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – and learning about biodiversity and climate change – even more special.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – a world-renowned centre for the scientific study of plants and their conservation – was already one of the city’s favourite places when the John Hope Gateway opened in 2009. It is now even more popular.

The Gateway is far more than an entrance, however stunning. With its exhibitions and a new biodiversity garden, it opens up the world of the Garden to visitors. The building itself – including wind turbine, rainwater harvesting and timber roof – has much to say about climate change and sustainability.

A restaurant, outdoor café, shop, and flexible spaces for events all add to the benefits that the building brings to the Garden.

JOHN HOPE GATEWAY

Location: Edinburgh, ScotlandClient: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Started on site: September 2007Completed: July 2009Size: 2762sqmConstruction cost: £10.7m (inc. partial fit-out)

Awards:• CIBSE Awards - New Build Project of

the Year (Public Sector)• RICS Scotland Awards - Sustainability

Winner• Civic Trust Award Commendation• Institution of Structural Engineers

Award for Best Entertainment Structure

• Scottish Event Awards - Best Unusual Venue

Above: View of the John Hope Gateway as approached from inside the Botanic Garden. Photo©Paul Raftery.

Above: The restaurant on the first floor is flexible for everyday visitor use and evening hospitality events. Photo©Paul Raftery.

Above: The Gateway has been designed to demonstrate sustainability through its exhibitions and in its construction, including the rainwater harvesting feature shown here above the main WC drum in the entrance lobby. Photo©Matt Laver.

CULLINAN STUDIOJohn Hope Gateway

ContextThe design of the John Hope Gateway takes its cue from the contours, paths and trees of the mature landscape of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, but we also wanted to capture the energy and enthusiasm for the world of plants that drives its scientists and researchers.

With teams from both the Garden and Scottish Natural Heritage, we worked and reworked the design until it chimed with what makes it special. The building sits at the point where the path leading to the centre of the Garden crosses the circular perimeter path – but we see it less as an ‘object’ in the landscape, more as a ‘lens’ through which to understand it.

A long slate wall runs along the axis to Inverleith House, helping to lock the Gateway into its surroundings. Views of the Garden are framed by the slate walls and the projected timber roof and, inside, routes and views radiate out to the landscape.

Through a 60m curved glass wall you see the new biodiversity garden. With plant species critical to biodiversity, it forms a living extension of the exhibition spaces. It can also be explored outside along a zigzag path, or seen from the outside terraces on the upper floor.

Above: Aerial CGI view of the John Hope Gateway at the west entrance to the Botanic Garden. Illustration©Gross Max.

Above: The 60m curved glass wall to the exhibition area on the ground floor. Photo©Paul Raftery.

Above: A long wall made of local slate runs along the axis linking the park opposite to Inverleith House at the top of the hill, helping to lock the John Hope Gateway into its surroundings. Photo©Paul Raftery.

CULLINAN STUDIOJohn Hope Gateway

CreativityThe stone, timber, concrete and glass used in the John Hope Gateway have been put together in ways that bring out their inherent qualities. Each has a specific role.

The horizontal Caithness stone is stacked to glide into the contours of the Garden. The cross laminated timber glulam roof floats over the whole building as a single horizontal plane on pencil-thin steel columns – the most slender that we could devise. A series of coffered timber bays give an individual identity to open plan spaces below. The curved glass wall looks onto the zigzag beds of the new biodiversity garden.

There is no obvious ‘front’ or ‘back’ to the building – it can be approached from all directions and on different levels – and the boundaries between inside and outside also blur.

The roof is extended to create sheltered spaces. Its deep overhangs provide protection from rain and wind – so you can be outside and watch and smell the garden whatever the weather. There are walls that can be opened in summer, and inside on a cold winter’s day you are constantly aware of the Garden outside.

The ground floor exhibition spaces and shop extend into the surrounding landscape. These are overlooked by the restaurant and offices on the upper floor, which surround a double-storey atrium.

This all works to make the most of daylight and natural ventilation.

ClimateThe Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh looked to the John Hope Gateway to put across its messages about environmental sustainability, not just in its exhibitions but also through the building itself.

Perhaps most obvious is the wind turbine mounted on the green sedum roof – but there are also other renewable energy systems, such as a biomass-fuelled boiler, solar collectors for hot water and photovoltaic panels.

Careful orientation, good daylighting, natural ventilation and high insulation levels all contribute to the building’s energy efficiency – and strong and durable materials will guarantee a long life for the Gateway.

Using natural, local materials to construct the Gateway has also reduced its carbon footprint. Timber – Scottish wherever possible – was an obvious choice and is used extensively for both structures and finishes, including the structured veneered lumber of the mullions and transoms of the glazing, the helical stair and major items of furniture. Even the restaurant table tops have been made from trees previously felled in the Garden.

It will be hard to leave the John Hope Gateway without appreciating the importance of trees and their many uses.

Above: Deep overhangs protect the large terrace from wind and rain. Photo©Paul Raftery.

Above: The timber roof floats over the whole building as a single horizontal plane. Photo©James Newton.

Above: The double-helix staircase is made from Structural Veneered Lumber (SVL). Photo©James Newton.

Above: Exhibition space. Photo©Paul Raftery.Facing page: View of the Gateway across the new biodiversity ponds. Photo©Matt Laver.

CULLINAN STUDIOJohn Hope Gateway

CULLINAN STUDIOJohn Hope Gateway

1 Foyer2 Public WC3 Reception4 Temporary Exhibition5 Permanent Exhibition6 Science Studio7 Plant Room8 Shop9 Outdoor Shop10 Biodiversity Pools11 Biodiversity Gardens12 Performance Space13 Service Yard14 Education Room15 Offices16 Kitchen17 Restaurant18 VIP Room19 Outdoor Classroom20 External Terrace

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Above: First Floor Plan

Above: Ground Floor Plan

Above: Long Section