The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, introduced the Carbon Garden, an ambitious and visually compelling installation that brings together ecological narrative and innovative design. At the heart of the garden stands the Carbon Pavilion, an architectural centrepiece conceptualised by Mizzi Studio. The Pavilion is a tribute to the subterranean mycorrhizal networks that form the lifeblood of plant ecosystems and embodies a thoughtful intersection of environmental science and architectural form.

Defined by its organic silhouette, the Pavilion resists categorisation—neither plant, mushroom, nor tree. Emerging seamlessly from the landscape, the structure leans gently toward the sun in symbolic reference to photosynthesis, while its design language conveys both conceptual depth and technical precision.

Lundhs has worked with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to supply and fabricate the Pavilion’s Larvikite stone footings—essential structural and aesthetic components that assist Kew with the creation of the Carbon Garden. Kew’s permanent new garden aims to reveal the invisible, bringing to life the critical role carbon plays in sustaining life on Earth, communicating the scale of the climate crisis, and sharing the extraordinary potential of the natural world to combat it.

Composed of natural and sustainable materials, the Pavilion reflects an unwavering commitment to ecological integrity and craftsmanship. The main structural element, a larch timber trunk, supports a canopy formed from carbon-sequestering flax natural-fibre composite. Footings in Lundhs Blue®, engineered to a custom thickness of 90mm, elevate the Pavilion above ground level, creating a sense of visual lightness and structural poise. The Larvikite itself, supplied by Lundhs and precisely fabricated by Hustadvika Steinindustri, introduces permanence, texture and a distinct geological identity to the installation.

The success of this project is underpinned by multidisciplinary collaboration across architecture, fabrication, engineering and material sourcing. Mizzi Studio led the design vision, with fabrication carried out by Xylotech and structural engineering delivered by Atelier One. Lundhs, as part of the Stone Collective, supplied the natural stone elements, while production support was provided by Henrik Paulsen and Hustadvika Steinindustri. The partnership between Lundhs and Mizzi Studio was initiated through a RIBA CPD presentation by Benjamin Ayling, Business Developer at Lundhs, and evolved into a creative and professionally rewarding alliance.

The concept of “radical”, from the Latin radix, meaning “root”, is reflected both literally and philosophically in the Pavilion’s construction and message. The Carbon Garden encourages reflection on the hidden systems that sustain visible life and invites the architectural community to reconsider the role of enduring, responsible materials such as natural stone and timber in shaping future landscapes.