Eden Project

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Image:EdenProject2005-07-30.jpg Image:Eden project tropical biome.jpg

The Eden Project is a project conceived by Tim Smit and designed by the architects Grimshaw to construct and maintain a large-scale environmental complex on a property located about 8 km (5 mi) from St Austell in Bodelva, Cornwall, UK. Although relatively new, the project has quickly become one of the most popular visitor attractions in the United Kingdom. The complex includes two giant, transparent domes, each emulating a natural biome, that house plant species from around the world. The first emulates a tropical environment, the other a warm temperate, Mediterranean-type environment. The project took 2½ years to construct and opened to the public in March 2001. The project is ongoing, and part of its purpose is to see how the different biomes develop over time.

The Core is the latest addition to the site, opening in September 2005. It provides the Eden Project with a much-needed education facility, incorporating classrooms and exhibition spaces designed to help communicate Eden’s central message about the relationship between people and plants. Accordingly the building has taken its inspiration from plants, most noticeably in the form of the soaring timber roof, which gives the building its distinctive shape.

Grimshaw developed the geometry of the copper-clad roof in collaboration with a sculptor, Peter Randall-Page, and Mike Purvis of structural engineers SKM Anthony Hunts. It is derived from Phyllotaxis, which is the mathematical basis for nearly all plant growth; the ‘opposing spirals’ found in many plants such as the seeds in a sunflower’s head, pinecones and pineapples.

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Views of Eden Project

Brook in the tropical dome

The imperative of Water

Nature vs. artifice - nature

Nature vs. artifice - artifice

Banana bike

Old olive tree at the entrance of the subtropical dome

Tim Shaw's artwork Rites of Dionysus (2004)

Prairie flowers

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Layout

The project is constructed in a disused china clay quarry. Visitors approach along roads to car parks at the top of the quarry and walk or bus to the entrance area, half-way down a gently sloping side. The entrance area includes the usual restaurant and gift shop, implemented in a more interesting way than is common. The entrance area also has some informational exhibits, some of which are animated.

Once into the attraction, there is a meandering path with views of the two biomes and of interesting planted landscapes (including, for example, colourful patterned areas which upon inspection prove to be vegetable gardens) and sculptures, such as a giant bee and towering robot-themed creature created from old electrical appliances.

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The steel and plastic biomes

Image:Cornwall, eden project tropical.jpg

At the bottom are the two biomes. The larger, the Humid Tropics Biome, is for tropical plants, such as fruiting banana trees, coffee, rubber and giant bamboo, and is kept at a tropical temperature. The smaller of the two, the Temperate Biome, which will eventually have its content split into a third Biome yet to be built, houses temperate and arid plants and various pieces of sculpture.

The biomes are constructed from a tubular steel frame with mostly hexagonal transparent panels (there are a few pentagonal ones) made from a complex plastic known as ETFE (it was decided very early on that glass was out of the question, being too heavy and potentially dangerous). The 'panes' of the biome are created from a triple layer of thin UV-transparent ETFE film, inflated to create a large space between the two sides and trapping heat like double-glazed windows. The plastic is resistant to most stains, which simply wipe off in the rain, although if required, cleaning is performed by abseilers. Although the plastic is prone to punctures, these can be fixed with ETFE tape. The structure is completely self-supporting, with no internal supports, and is based around a geodesic structure. The panels vary in size up to 9m across, with the largest at the top of the structure.

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Environmental study and concerns

All known medicinal uses for the plants are listed alongside them. Part of the Eden Project is serious environmental and educational study, aiming to safeguard our planet and prevent mankind destroying benefits provided by nature by showcasing the interdependence of plants and people. Large displays and 'hands on' attractions aim to be both fun and educational, with new developments such as the Eden Education Centre proving to be a place to have fun, yet learn important things about our planet and our survival.

The Eden Project is an extremely environmentally aware project. There are many attractions and information signs on Global Warming and why plants are so important to our way of life (shown in a rather controversial and entertaining animation displaying what our world would be like without plant life). The Eden Project recycles as much as possible, with all litter areas split into five or more compartments for plastic, food, paper and other general waste, which is all recycled. The massive amounts of water required to create the humid conditions of the Tropical Biome, as well as to serve the toilet facilities, are all sanitized rain water that would otherwise collect at the bottom of the quarry. The 'Eden Shop' also boasts a huge array of recycled waste, such as pencils made of plastic vending machine cups, and mouse mats made of old tyres or circuit boards, as well as 'grow your own' kits.

Mr. Smit states that if the project becomes, or is merely seen to be, a theme park, then it has failed.

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Recent events

The Eden Project hosted the "Africa Calling" concert of the Live 8 concert series on July 2 2005. It was also used as a filming location for the 2002 James Bond film, Die Another Day.

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Books

The Eden Project has also published a number of books.

(list is incomplete)

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See also

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External links

fr:Eden Project kw:Edenva

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