Maltese architect Jonathan Mizzi has been appointed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to design a groundbreaking pavilion for the Carbon Garden - a major new project set to open in July 2025. This permanent addition to London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site aims to showcase the vital role of plants and fungi in combating climate change, making Mr Mizzi’s design a centrepiece of innovation and environmental education.

The Carbon Garden seeks to make the invisible visible by telling the story of carbon - its essential role in ecosystems, its impact on the climate crisis, and how nature offers solutions for restoring balance. The project is backed by £1 million in funding from the Biffa Award and aims to inspire visitors to become advocates for nature, emphasising the importance of sustainability and regeneration.

At the heart of the Carbon Garden stands the central pavilion designed by Mizzi Studio, which draws inspiration from the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi. The structure’s organic form resembles a fungal fruiting body, with a sweeping, forward-tilted canopy reminiscent of a carnivorous plant.

Supported by a central timber trunk and a vein-like structural system, the pavilion uses sustainably sourced materials, low-carbon stone foundations, and innovative natural fibre composites - all designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

This collaboration between Mizzi Studio and Kew Gardens is not their first. Mr Mizzi previously designed The Family Kitchen at Kew, a sustainable dining space focused on education and environmental consciousness. Building on that success, the Carbon Garden Pavilion further cements Mr Mizzi’s reputation for creating nature-inspired, regenerative architecture.

Mr Mizzi expressed his excitement for the project, highlighting its alignment with his studio’s mission of designing environments that grow with nature rather than simply being constructed. ‘The Carbon Garden and Pavilion demonstrate how regenerative architecture can move beyond sustainability, proving that harmony with nature isn’t just possible; it’s essential to our survival,’ said Mr Mizzi.

Mizzi Studio’s innovative approach extends beyond the UK. In Malta, the firm has been pioneering the Regenerative Multimodal Transport System, a nature-based mobility solution designed to address rising temperatures and urban heat stress. This philosophy of working with nature to create resilient environments is at the core of the studio’s global and local initiatives.

The Carbon Garden Pavilion promises to be a space of education, exploration, and inspiration. As visitors step beneath its organic canopy, they’ll engage with the urgent story of carbon and climate change...and leave empowered to take action for a more sustainable future.

Excited to see the new structure?