Kew Gardens Family Kitchen & Shop

The new Family Kitchen & Shop at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew brings a sustainable dining experience to London’s favorite botanical destination. Designed as an extension of the popular Children’s Garden, the restaurant educates families about food, plants and ecology in an interactive way. Wallpaper magazine called it “a real architectural must-visit for the whole family.”

Accommodating up to 250 guests, the restaurant interlinks the wonder of nature with an interactive food laboratory. Seasonal food stories come to life across color-coded zones within the space.

HOK’s design aligns with Kew’s sustainability ethos, reflecting its commitment to achieving ‘Climate Positive’ status by 2030. The timber-framed structure echoes the architectural language of Kew Gardens while forging a connection with the natural surroundings. The flexible front-of-house space can accommodate various layouts, making it easily adaptable for the future. The fully glazed main facade harmonizes with the existing architecture within the Gardens.

In addition to the natural timber and triple-glazed curtain wall facade, sustainable features include exposed mechanical and electrical services, 71 photovoltaic roof panels and finishes from recycled materials. Approximately 80% of the hot water uses recycled heat from the kitchen and dining areas.

The project achieved BREEAM Excellent certification and reduced embodied carbon by over 50% compared to industry benchmarks.

HOK led the architectural and sustainability design. Mizzi Studio designed the engaging front-of-house interiors, while Lumsden Design created a nature-inspired retail space. CityAxis, with Mulroy Architects, provided design development, interior design and design-build delivery services. Mott MacDonald handled structural and MEP engineering.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Meredith