BDP’s Hive relocates to Kew Gardens

Manchester-based landscape architect James Millington’s centrepiece for the UK Pavilion at the Milan 2015 Expo has found a permanent home at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London.

The move coincides with Millington’s promotion to associate director by BDP. Formerly joint landscape group leader, his new role will see Millington lead a team of 11 landscape architects and computer-aided design technicians. Other notable projects by the team include Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Qatar Academies, Liverpool One and University of York Heslington East Campus.

The team provided landscape, architectural and environmental engineering to the Nottingham-based artist Wolfgang Buttress, who was creative lead for the UK Pavilion, which was subsequently named the Best Pavilion for Architecture & Landscape at the 2015 Milan Expo.

James Millington, left, with Wolfgang Buttress

The structure, an immersive, multi-sensory experience inspired by scientific research into the health of bees, is open to the public from 18 June until November 2017.

Millington commented: “We are thrilled to have worked with Kew Gardens to bring The Hive back to the UK.

“The original concept for the UK Pavilion was based around landscape and art, and so it gives me great pleasure to once again have played a lead role in the next chapter of this fantastic project.

“A sensitive approach to the integration of The Hive into the gardens was needed and our international team of award winning designers, made up of landscape architects and engineers, has worked closely with Wolfgang Buttress and Kew in order to achieve this.”

Millington added: “I have been at BDP since leaving university, and am immensely proud to have risen through the ranks. I am now looking forward to leading our excellent team of landscape architects, and continuing our exceptional work in higher education, healthcare and public realm design.”