Architects appointed to bring Gateway vision to life

Earth Trust has partnered with award winning architects White Design to bring to life our vision for Earth Lab and Innovation Hub which will transform learning at Earth Trust.

Earth Trust’s educational opportunities are underpinned by our green spaces – our outdoor classrooms. However, 2019 will be an exciting time for us as we undertake a project to ensure our indoor learning facilities and visitor experience are every bit as inspiring and educational as the outdoor green spaces. We are delighted to announce that we have chosen White Design, an innovative and award-winning sustainability architect’s practice, to bring our vision for Earth Trust’s Gateway project to life.

Jayne Manley, CEO of Earth Trust said: “Earth Lab will be at the heart of Earth Trust Gateway, providing a stimulating, inspirational education space. Supporting our objective to engage people with their environment, learning opportunities will be built into the fabric of the structure itself. The aim is to use the building as a demonstration of sustainability in action through the design, materials and construction methods used, together with the services on which the building will depend.”

This new learning space will be accessed by people of all ages. As well as welcoming school groups, it will also host adult skills courses, families enjoying our festivals and birthday party groups. Earth Lab will double our educational capacity enabling us to expand to support STEM subjects, understanding of our environmental ecosystems as well as skills based learning for adults and people with special needs.

As well as creating this fabulous new education space, White Design will also be transforming the current learning barn into a new Innovation Hub. This area will be key in telling the story of the Earth Trust, providing orientation for visitors as they start their journey exploring the green spaces that we care for.

Craig White, Managing Director at White Design said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Earth Trust for their new Gateway project. We look forward to helping deliver the Earth Trust’s vision in physical form through the architecture and landscape of the project. From the moment visitors approach the building, the materials, views and route should evoke the beginnings of this time travel experience and the relationship between past, present and future. Through our creative collaboration with the Earth Trust, stakeholders and our design team (Artecology, Method Consulting and Curtins) we are excited about the prospect of delivering a truly beautiful, affordable and sustainable design.”

Jayne Manley added: “Our vision is for a Gateway which is alive and inspirational perhaps including rammed earth walls, a roof that mimics how water moves through the landscape and plant walls: immersive experiences which fully engage our visitors with the nurturing environment around them. White Design demonstrated that they shared our passion and vison for this project, and I am truly excited about how innovative our new Gateway will be and the wonderful learning experiences it will provide for the thousands of people we welcome each year.”

White Design will be working closely with the Earth Trust team over the next few months to ensure that we are ready to start construction in autumn 2019.