The curvilinear forms of the roof of the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre are sheathed in aluminum where not covered by an extensive green roof.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Entrance
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
A conical skylight punches though the roof of the visitor center’s lobby, and serves as a solar chimney to generate airflow in the naturally ventilated space.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Rammed-earth walls line the path to the entrance and continue on the interior.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Outlined with a border of gravel to allow drainage, the green roof serves as its own ecosystem—playing host to a variety of plant species—and it dips down to grade level to allow access to local fauna.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Underneath the canopy, the roof plane is lined in wood beams and supported by wood-clad columns. The use of wood can contribute to the building’s goal of meeting the stringent Living Building Challenge because of the material’s sequestered carbon.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
The lobby at the core of the visitors center provides a jumping off point where guests can enter into the gardens, or access the building’s amenities, which include a shop and café.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
A flexible education space can be configured for seminars or events.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Skylight
VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
Oculus with powdercoated, perforate-aluminum heat sink hanging below.