Historic Buildings

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Reimagining the Palm House for a Net Zero Future

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) houses one of the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world, within a 139 ha UNESCO World Heritage site, on the banks of the Thames. Central to it, is Decimus Burton’s 1848 Palm House, with its world-famous living collections, one of the world’s most significant and oldest glasshouses. The £66m project will repair, conserve and reinstate the essence of the Palm House as originally constructed; enhance its landscaped setting; simplify energy systems and maintenance; reduce reliance on mains water; enhance physical and intellectual access; and improve staff working conditions. RBG Kew already welcomes annually 2.4m visitors, over 100,000 school children, and receives some 7.5m website visits. These numbers will be boosted significantly by the restored Palm House, as Kew Garden’s top site destination. The tailored activity plans and innovative interpretation proposals will benefit millions and address local and regional priorities with an added national reach. With a projected £20m from Defra, its sponsor body, RBG Kew will create the world’s first net-zero glasshouse, requiring cutting-edge design and technology, setting a global standard for sustainable projects and engaging new generations with the ecosystems of the tropics.