Pioneering regeneration highlighting the climate emergency

Redevelopment of the estate to update the Grade II* listed Natural History Gallery, create the Nature Explorers' Adventure Zone—a nature-themed play area and children's café with improved access to the historic Nature Trail—and form a Sustainable Gardening Zone with a plant nursery and planting displays.

Located in South London, The Grade II*-listed Horniman Museum and Gardens includes a main building, designed by Charles Harrison Townsend, which opened in 1901, with an extension completed a decade later. In 2002, Allies and Morrison expanded the complex, and in 2012, Walters & Cohen, in Collaboration with Skelly & Couch, completed a £2.3 million garden pavilion. Skelly & Couch is now part of the competition-winning team led by Feilden Fowles for The Nature + Love project.
The Nature + Love project aims to revitalise the Arts and Crafts-style building and its surrounding gardens, supporting the museum's commitment to addressing climate change, minimising waste, using water responsibly, enhancing well-being, and promoting responsible procurement—all as part of their ambition to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2040. The project focuses on three key areas:

Natural History Gallery: A phased refurbishment keeps the building in use whilst the Grade II listed roof is upgraded to achieve optimum thermal insulation and best practice-ventilation. The works protect against moisture buildup and future proof the structure for the installation of PV panels.
Services are fully replaced and concelead within the existing fabric. This includes mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, a heating system designed for future integration of heat pumps, integrated controls and lighting, and a new fire alarm system. The strategy also adopts a low-energy approach to ensure a climatically stable environment for the long-term conservation of the exhibits. 

Nature Explorers' Adventure Zone: The boating pond area is being revitalised to attract more visitors by creating a children's play and education area, a kindercafé with scenic views, and improved access to the nature trail.

Sustainable Gardening Zone: Propagation facilities are being redeveloped with sustainable biomass heating and rainwater harvesting, two enhanced glasshouses, new community facilities, and landscaping improvements to the South Downs area of the site.

These improvements will promote learning and wellbeing, positioning the Nature + Love project as a catalyst for positive change by inspiring visitors to care for the planet and their communities.

A new-build, 2 Form Entry Primary School close to the Olympic site in east London.

Skelly & Couch has worked closely with developer Vastint UK and architects Citizens Design Bureau to deliver The Talent House, a new home for both East London Dance and music organisation UD at Sugar House Island, Stratford.

Exemplary refurbishment of the school’s Grade II*-listed Main House.

A new marine conservation hub based at the Whitburn Coastal Park in Sunderland.

A BREEAM Outstanding new Junior School for a leading independent education trust.

The significant and transformative development for St Hilda’s College comprised an Anniversary Building and riverside Pavilion, set in a reimagined landscape. 

New creative and exhibition space for Life Science Centre in Newcastle.

Skelly & Couch are part of a team led by Alison Brooks Architects which has won a two-stage design competition for the new net zero carbon timber-framed Porters' Lodge and expansion of the college library.

An exemplary new teaching hub for Science, Technology and Innovation.