The Eden Project

The Eden Project is a large-scale environmental complex near St Austell, Cornwall.

The project was conceived by Tim Smit and designed by the architects Grimshaw. Although relatively new, it 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 2.5 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.

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. In fact the only mains water used is for hand washing and for cooking. They have Green Tariff Electricity the energy comes from one of the many wind turbines in Cornwall, which were some of the first in Europe.