Project Description
Situated entirely underground, this seed vault questions the relationship between ground, growth, and building. The site has been transformed into a terraced landscape. Off the main axis, there are terraced planting beds dedicated to student and community gardens. The vault’s entrance breaks through these terraces and leads visitors to the main space. Skylights provide light to the facility and are juxtaposed with transparent planting boxes, exposing the root systems above. The storage facilities line the perimeter and are at appropriate depths for cooling. Underground tunnels make the space a hub, serving the Natural History Museum, Biology, and Forestry departments.