This pavilion forms the centrepiece of the Carbon Garden at Kew Gardens. Designed by Mizzi Studio, it serves as both a functional classroom and a space that draws visitors into conversations about carbon, climate and resilience. The engineering was undertaken by Atelier One to tender, with Stage 4 and 5 engineering design by Format Engineers on behalf of Xylotek. As part of a garden exploring the carbon cycle, the pavilion considers its environmental impact throughout, with a primary timber structure, a roof of natural-fibre composite panels, linking structure in repurposed steel and granite foundations.
The structure itself becomes a teaching tool in this project, demonstrating regenerative design through both its form and the materials from which it is made. Through the innovative use of bio-based materials, reversible construction and carefully considered structural detailing, the pavilion showcases how thoughtful material selection and engineering analysis can minimise environmental impact. The judges particularly valued the way the structure explains the carbon cycle, making sustainability visible and accessible to visitors. It provides an inspiring example of how regenerative thinking, technical innovation and elegant structural design can come together in a single project.