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British Museum World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre (WCEC)

London, UK

Landscape architecture at British Museum WCEC with urban courtyard planting, trees, and integrated skylight design.

The World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre (WCEC) is one of the largest redevelopment projects in the British Museum's 260‑year history. The new building provides the Museum with a new major exhibition gallery and state‑of‑the‑art laboratories and studios, alongside newly landscaped courtyards that enhance visitors' experience.

The new courtyards provide a tranquil oasis of naturalistic green planting, providing an extension to the internal spaces of the new World Conservation Exhibition Centre at the British Museum. The courtyards create a distinctive, memorable and relaxing environment where visitors can retreat from city life.

The naturalistic planting style within the courtyard is in lively contrast to the crisp, clean lines of the stone paving and granite planters, which boldly respond to the geometry of the new internal exhibition space.

Sustainable courtyard planting at British Museum WCEC featuring birch trees, ornamental grasses, and accessible paving design.

Contemporary landscape design with biodiverse planting at British Museum WCEC courtyard beside modern architectural façade.

"Embedded within the new WCEC building is a refined grid structure that mediates between the existing museum and its neighbours. The courtyard garden extends this language through patinated metal planters, natural stone paving and a perennial-led planting scheme. Trees, grasses and seasonal planting soften the architecture, enhance biodiversity and continue onto the roofscape, creating additional habitat for wildlife."

Stephen Richards, Partner