While the gardens have previously relied on mains water, a new irrigation strategy designed by the practice forms part of a wider project to ensure water security.Devised in collaboration with horticultural and capital projects teams at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the new irrigation network includes this timber-enclosed pump house which acts as the heartbeat of the system. The pump house rests on a small mound above an underground water tank that stores 280,000 litres of irrigation water.Similar to the neighbouring Treetop Walkway, designed by Marks Barfield in 2008, the pump house has been designed to have a subtle relationship with its natural environment. Its form is intended to mimic a fallen leaf in plan, while the structure of interlocking timber struts is intended to reference a palm frond. The struts interlock on each side to form sharp, angular walls that curve to create an oval-shaped enclosure sheltering the machinery within.AdvertisementNatural finish European larch was used for the external structure, which will age naturally over time to a silver colour.Architects viewThe timber enclosure design makes use of repeated interlocking modules of naturally finished European larch arrayed into an oval-shaped plan. The filigree timber enclosure will naturally age to a silver colour and is designed to play with the dappled light and shadows of surrounding trees to complement the landscape and camouflage the pumphouses inner workings. Dozens of sketch studies were made of leaf structures, seed pods and palm fronds by hand and with 3D digital modelling to help create and analyse the nature-inspired and sculptural design.We are very proud to be working with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. They are world leaders in plant and fungal scientific research and conservation, they are leading the charge in terms of nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and its an honour to be a part of this overall mission. The larger irrigation strategy will be part of the gardens resilient future and, where Kew goes, others will be able to follow.Hugh Broughton, founder, Hugh Broughton ArchitectsClient's viewThe new pump house at Kew marks a significant step forward in our irrigation infrastructure development. Having a reliable and efficient pumping system to distribute the water stored in our underground tank is an essential element for our landscape resilience. In the future, by adding harvested rainwater, we will be able to reduce our reliance on mains water, ensuring that our gardens thrive while we work in harmony with nature. This will not only preserve precious resources but also set a new standard for environmental stewardship in horticulture at Kew.Richard Barley, director of gardens, RBG KewProject dataStart on site November 2023Completion date July 2024Gross internal floor area 22m2Gross (internal + external) floor area 110m2Form of contract or procurement route Traditional (JCT ICD 2016 Intermediate Building Contract with Contractors Design)Architect Hugh Broughton ArchitectsClient Royal Botanic Gardens, KewStructural engineer StantecM&E consultants Stantec, Spencer MayesQS FirmingersBuilding energy management consultant KendraPump supplier KGN PillingerProject manager Royal Botanic Gardens, KewPrincipal designer CityAxis LtdRegistered building control approver Regional Building Control LimitedMain contractor CityAxis LtdSpecialist timber design and fabricator XylotekSpecialist steel design and fabricator Rank EngineeringCAD software used Autodesk Revit, Rhino, SketchUp