Eden Project biomes Cornwall
Cornwall, England · 2000-2001 · Not readily available
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchBiomimicry in design: The honeycomb shape of the biomes maximizes strength while minimizing materials. - ETFE cladding: The use of ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) for the inflated cells provided a lightweight, transparent, and durable solution. - Site transformation: Converting an almost uninhabitable clay pit into a new natural habitat. - Efficiency in design: The biomes were designed for efficiency in both space and material usage.
Key engineering challenges
Building within challenging terrain (a former clay pit). - Designing and constructing the large-span geodesic domes with minimal materials. - Developing a lightweight and transparent cladding system (ETFE). - Complex ground modelling and site remediation.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Eden Project Ltd
- Lead contractor
- McAlpine
- Lead designers
- Nicholas Grimshaw (Grimshaw Architects), Arup (structural engineering, facade engineering)
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Two Biome buildings (Rainforest Biome and Mediterranean Biome), consisting of several domes joined together. Geodesic tubular steel domes, hexagonal and pentagonal ETFE inflated cells.
- Disciplines
- Architecture; Structural Engineering; Civil Engineering; Facade Engineering; Landscape Architecture
- Standards & frameworks
- UK Building Regulations (implied)
Sources: https://www.edenproject.com/mission/architecture; https://grimshaw.global/projects/culture-and-exhibition/the-eden-project-the-biomes/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Project; https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/infrastructure-projects/eden-project