Walters and Cohen unveils Kew Gardens gallery

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These are the first images of Walters and Cohen's recently completed Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in Kew Gardens, west London, which opens this Saturday (19 April).

• Author: Richard Waite.

The scheme for the Royal Botanic Gardens has been hailed as the world's first public gallery dedicated to botanical art and will house 300m2 of exhibition space.
 
Designed as a 'box within a box', the gallery has one central space which is flanked by four smaller galleries.
 
It is glazed on two sides and contrasts with the Victorian Marianne North Gallery, designed by James Fergusson, next door.
 
Walters and Cohen was appointed on the project in 2004 through the Botanic Gardens framework agreement.
 
Describing the scheme, practice founder Cindy Walters said:'The 200,000-strong collection is hugely important globally, both scientifically and artistically, and some of the artworks portray species which are now extinct and may be the only surviving record.'
 
She added: 'Many of the artworks are extremely light-sensitive and require a climate-controlled environment, so we have paid particular attention to designing a building that will protect these unique works, as well as providing a welcoming and flexible space that visitors will enjoy for many years to come.'