CED Stone Commercial Brochure

Natural History Museum - London Founded as part of the British Museum in 1753, The Natural History Museum opened in the magnificent Alfred Waterhouse building in South Kensington in 1881. The design, awarded as part of an extensive design competition, was realised at a time when Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection was rocking the very foundations of science. Now, more than 135 years later, a design team consisting of Kim Wilkie, Wilder Associates and Neil McLaughlin Architects are undertaking a similar process within the grounds that have until now remained a fragmented and underutilised setting for the building. The scheme, also awarded as part of a design competition, will not only explore the history of our planet but also the future of mans coexistence with nature. CED Stone Group www.cedstone.co.uk The scheme started boldly, with a complete reconfiguration of the main entrance with the aim being to make the main entrance to The Natural History Museum wheelchair accessible and upgrade the aesthetics of the outdoor area. The museum entrance, once an obstacle to wheelchairs and pushchairs, has been reconfigured with bespoke Yorkstone ramps that abut the Grade 1 listed building. The replacement of stone on the building facade and steps proved challenging as the Scottish quarry from which it is believed the original steps came has been closed for 25 years and the nearest match from Scotland turned out to be too different to the original. Fortunately a source was found which was both a precise colour match and was able to be delivered in large units that were required to straddle the wide beams that lie beneath the main entrance. A light green schist was selected to emphasise the junctions between new and reclaimed materials. Also a British stone, it reflects the colours in the building and this is the first the first time it has been used in the public realm. The large bastions that lie either side of the main entrance steps have been transformed into planters displaying flora of the Canary Islands, one of the first places that Darwin and subsequent botanists experienced plant species outside of Europe. The large forecourt, once a sea of tarmac, has finally been given the dignity that it deserves by being paved in elegant arcs of porphyry stone setts pointing towards the building. The setts had a special grey palette with a little brown tint, rather than the usual burgundy- violet and orange mix. The original cubes were modified to 60-60mm x 80mm thick because of limited build-up height and smaller setts were used where the arcs met, making the pattern fit better. A line of setts laid in rows with granite ‘wheeler’ flags set at the width of a cart’s wheels ran all the way up two ramps on either side of the building, set into more tarmac. The tarmac was replaced with the same porphyry setts used on the lower vehicular frontage. Our first instinct was to retain as much of the existing material as possible and so the distinctive Mountsorrell pink granite setts of the carriageway would be lifted and cleaned in order to be re-laid, but the re-configuration of the ramps resulted in a shortfall. We had to lean on the expertise of CED Stone to source a match, which was found in Sweden. The line of setts were extended using a Swedish granite produced in Portugal. Larger setts were used along the outer radius to allow for the curve of the ramp, and the new areas also had to include the same mix of sizes. Reclaimed flat kerbs were identified as a colour match for the wheelers, however, some were too wide so the final pieces had to be carefully selected, avoiding sawn edges which would have ruined the worn, reclaimed aesthetic. The scheme looks immediately in keeping with the heritage of the building, so much so that many visitors will hardly recognise it as a new landscape. This has not been an easy task. Beneath the new stonework lies a great deal of new technology, including attenuation tanks, irrigations systems, lighting and extensive re-engineering to make good the crumbling structure of the catacombs that lie beneath the steps and carriage ramps. The selection of natural stone to grace the entrance of such a magnificent building was a journey that started in London but led us to consult with stone experts from all over Europe. It has ultimately led us to examine the long-term benefits of natural stone in an industry that often puts emphasis on initial cost. The exercise has helped to remind us of the wealth of knowledge that exists within the landscape industry and our obligation to ensure that the skills and expertise required to deliver such schemes is passed on to future generations. 21