The Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Gardens

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The Climatronat the Missouri Botanical Gardens

• An Architectural Analysis by
• Colleen Harres
• Cindy Mulnik

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The Architectural Analysis includes

• History of the Building
• Present Building Use
• Analysis
• Organizational Layout
• Circulation
• Proportion and Scale
• Ordering Principles
• Site-Related Aspects and Parking Facilities

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History of the Building

• Built in 1960 to replace the Palm House for a
  cost of 700,000
• Idea to build the Climatron came in 1959 from
  Frits W. Went (the director of the garden) to
  house a laboratory that was an open, clear
  structure
• The name Climatron is meant to imply that they
  building has a controlled climate
• Incorporates the design principles of Buckminster
  Fullers Geodesic System

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History of the Building, continued

• Developed by Architects Murphy and Mackey
• Won the Reynolds Award in 1969 for Architectural
  Excellence in Aluminum
• Named one of the 100 most significant
  architectural achievements in United States
  History in 1976.
• Renovated from 1988-1990 for 6 Million and the
  Shoenberg Temperate House was added

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Present Building Use

• Used as the Missouri Botanical Gardens Main
  Conservatory
• Simulates a tropical lowland rainforest
• Houses 1,200 out of 160,000 species of Tropical
  Plants, including many endangered species
• Also home to cycads from areas all over the world

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Analysis Organizational Layout

• Adjacent Spaces describe the layout of the
  Climatron and the recent addition of the
  Shoenberg Temperate House.

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Analysis Circulation

• Approach Frontal approach from all entrances
• Entrance Projected entrance that forms a
  transitional space which is centered on the
  building in reference to the path. The pond
  opposite the main entrance gives it
  ornamentation.
• Configuration of the Path A radial path that
  terminates at a central location with other
  spiral paths that branch off the main path.
• Path-Space Relationships Pass by Spaces.
  Although the Climatron is one main space, it is
  broken up into different areas that allow for
  visitors to pass by the various plants.
• Form of the Circulation Space Enclosed space
  that lends an airy feeling due to the Saflex
  (plexiglas) and lack of supporting columns.

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Analysis Proportion and Scale

• The Climatron stands 70 feet high and 175 feet in
  Diameter.
• As you can see, the elevation of the Climatron is
  about half of its floor plan.

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Analysis Ordering Principles

• Axis and Symmetry There is a central axis that
  divides the dome in half. Since the addition of
  the Temperate House, the balance of space is
  offset, but it merely adds to the architectural
  details of the Climatron.
• Hierarchy By looking at the Botanical Gardens as
  a whole, one can see the Climatron from almost
  any area which shows visitors the importance of
  the structure.

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Site-Related Aspects andParking Facilities
Parking Facilities

• The main parking lots for the Botanical Gardens
  are located outside the Ridgway Center
• Due to the Botanical Gardens being a public
  facility, they are ADA compliant and paths
  throughout the gardens are wheelchair accessible.
  
• The Rock Garden, Milles Sculpture Garden, Dwarf
  Conifer Garden, Azalea Rhododendron Garden,
  Magnolia Walk, Rose Garden, and Dry Stream Bed
  Garden all surround the Climatron, so there is
  ample room for later growth and expansion.

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Resources

• All of the information and photographs used in
  this presentation were found at
• http//www.mobot.org/welcome.html
• the main webpage for the