In this high-profile project, as part of the Natural History Museum’s new, state-of-the-art Darwin Centre, Blakedown constructed an external courtyard with a striking elliptical amphitheatre, a large, paved area for functions and a tree grove.
For the function area, Blakedown’s skilled craftsmen laid Yorkstone paving in straight lines to marry up with the internal paving lines, thus achieving the architect’s vision of a continuum between the internal and external spaces through the glass façade. Yorkstone curb, specially cut-and-faced stones, were individually marked and laid to form a complete elliptical shape, with LED lighting cut into every alternating stone. To soften the area, large bamboos were planted and a grove of 8m-high, multi-stemmed birch trees were planted through a carpet of turf.
The space is atmospherically lit at night through the use of LED lights and uplighters to the trees and bamboo. Complementary resin-bond gravel was installed to roadways and footpaths, along with spiralled hand rails and Yorkstone cladding.
This project was fulfilled by 
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About the contract
Client: Natural History Museum
Architect: Schofield Lothian
Contract Value: £1.2m
Duration: 12 months
Date: 2010
