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The Eden Project is a large-scale Environmental complex in England . The project is located in a reclaimed China Clay Pit , located from the town of St Blazey and from the larger town of St Austell .Ordnance Survey (2005). ''OS Explorer Map 107 - Fowey, Looe & Lostwithiel''. ISBN 0-319-23708-3. The complex comprises a number of domes that house Plant Species from around the world, with each emulating a natural Biome . The domes are made out of hundreds of hexagons plus a few pentagons that interconnect the whole construction together; each of these is a transparent cushion made of tough plastic. The first dome emulates a Tropical environment, the second a warm temperate, Mediterranean environment. The project was conceived by Tim Smit and designed by the architect Nicholas Grimshaw and engineering firm Anthony Hunt And Associates , with Davis Langdon carrying out the project management, Sir Robert McAlpine and Alfred McAlpine undertaking the construction and MERO to design and build the biomes. The project took 2½ years to construct and opened to the public on 17 March 2001 . SITE Layout The project is constructed in a disused China Clay Pit . Once into the attraction, there is a meandering path with views of the two biomes, planted landscapes, including vegetable gardens, and Sculpture s that include a giant Bee and towering Robot -themed creature created from old electrical appliances. Biomes At the bottom of the pit are two covered biomes:
The biomes are constructed from a tubular steel space-frame (hex-tri-hex) with mostly hexagonal external cladding panels made from the thermoplastic ETFE . At the outset, glass was proscribed due to its weight and potential dangers. The cladding panels themselves are created from several layers of thin UV -transparent ETFE Film , which are sealed around their perimeter and inflated to create a large cushion. The resulting cushion acts like a thermal blanket to the structure. The ETFE material is resistant to most stains, which simply wash off in the rain. If required, cleaning can be performed by Abseil ers. Although the ETFE is susceptible to punctures, these can be easily fixed with ETFE tape. The structure is completely self-supporting, with no internal supports, and takes the form of a Geodesic structure. The panels vary in size up to across, with the largest at the top of the structure. The ETFE technology was supplied and installed by Vector Foiltec who are also responsible for ongoing maintenance of the cladding. The steel spaceframe and cladding package (with Vector Foiltec as ETFE subcontractor) was designed, supplied and installed by MERO (UK) PLC, who also jointly developed the overall scheme geometry with the architect, Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners. The entire project was managed by McAlpine Joint Venture. The Core The Core is the latest addition to the site and opened in September 2005. It provides the Eden Project with an education facility, incorporating classrooms and exhibition spaces designed to help communicate Eden's central message about the relationship between people and plants. Accordingly the building has taken its inspiration from plants, most noticeably in the form of the soaring timber roof, which gives the building its distinctive shape. Grimshaw developed the geometry of the copper-clad roof in collaboration with a sculptor, Peter Randall-Page, and Mike Purvis of structural engineers SKM Anthony Hunts. It is derived from Phyllotaxis , which is the mathematical basis for nearly all plant growth; the "opposing spirals" found in many plants such as the seeds in a sunflower's head, pine cones and pineapples. The copper was obtained from traceable sources, and the Eden Project is working with Rio Tinto to explore the possibility of encouraging further traceable supply routes for metals, which would enable users to avoid metals mined unethically. The services and acoustic design was carried out by Buro Happold . ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS The domes provide diverse growing conditions with many plants on display. The Eden Project includes Environmental education focusing on the interdependence of plants and people; plants are labelled with their Medicinal uses. The massive amounts of water required to create the humid conditions of the Tropical Biome, as well as to serve the toilet facilities, are all sanitized rain water that would otherwise collect at the bottom of the quarry. In fact the only mains water used is for hand washing and for cooking. The complex also uses Green Tariff Electricity — the energy comes from one of the many Wind Turbines in Cornwall, which were amongst the first in Europe . Somewhat controversially one of the companies the Eden Project currently has a partnership with is the British mining company Rio Tinto Group . Rio Tinto is set to commence mining in Madagascar for Titanium Dioxide . This will involve the removal of a large section of costal forest with the possibly of extensive damage to the unique biodiversity of the Madagascan flora and fauna. EVENTS The Eden Project hosted the "Africa Calling" Concert of the Live 8 concert series on 2 July 2005 . It was also used as a filming location for the 2002 James Bond film, '' Die Another Day ''. It also provided some plants for the British Museum's Africa garden. In 2005 the Eden Project launched "A Time Of Gifts" for during the winter months, November to February. This features an ice rink covering the lake, with a small café/bar attached, as well as a Christmas market. Adding to atmosphere Cornish choirs regularly perform in the biomes. In 2006 and 2007, the Eden Project hosted a series of musical performances, called the 'Eden Sessions'. Artists have included Amy Winehouse , James Morrison , Muse , Lily Allen , Snow Patrol and The Magic Numbers . REFERENCES In literature
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