A Story of Nature and Nurture
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Purpose
- Shaping places
- Creating journeys
What we did
- Experience
- Wayfinding
A bridge between science and horticulture—an ambitious vision brought to life. Kew Gardens, a global leader in botanical research, reimagined how visitors engage with horticulture and science. The five-year restoration of the Temperate House, the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, set the stage. Home to 10,000 plants, many endangered, the goal was to share their epic stories and the efforts to save them, while helping visitors navigate 300 acres seamlessly.
Bringing science and horticulture together for the first time.
At the heart of this project was the ambition to integrate the stories of plants with the science behind their survival, a first for Kew Gardens. Traditionally separate, these disciplines came together through the £41m restoration of the Temperate House. The aim: connect visitors with plants’ native environments and highlight climate change’s impact on temperate zones.
We collaborated with stakeholders via workshops and interviews, aligning diverse perspectives into a unified vision. The result was a design system—‘the British butler’—that provided essential information discreetly. Modular and adaptable, it complemented the Temperate House’s grandeur and extended across the gardens.
A design system built for storytelling and resilience.
Two aspects of our approach stood out. First, we aligned diverse voices—scientists, horticulturists, and designers—into a unified narrative framework. This was the first time that science and horticulture were brought together so cohesively. Second, we created a design system that was agile, weather-resistant, and modular. Its clear hierarchy ensured visitors could navigate effortlessly without detracting from the natural beauty.
The result was a transformative wayfinding and interpretation system that illuminated the personal and epic stories of Kew’s plants. Visitors gained an understanding of the plants' ecological significance and a deeper appreciation for the researchers' relentless efforts to save them.
A lasting impact on visitor experience and conservation awareness.
The new system positioned Kew Gardens as a place where science and horticulture coexist in harmony, offering an experience that is both educational and moving. By bringing the stories of these plants to life, we enhanced the visitor journey and reinforced Kew’s mission to inspire a love of plants and the natural world.
Today, Kew Gardens’ interpretation and wayfinding system stands as a testament to what can be achieved when creativity and purpose align—an enduring symbol of hope for the plants it seeks to protect and the people who come to admire them.
