Our success continues within the heritage and culture sector following a recent appointment as Project Manager and Contract Administrator for the Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Nature + Love project.  Focus will be project managing the whole project from procuring the design team to the completion of the project, as well as supporting the Horniman on their Stage 2 bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Working alongside a wider team including Feilden Fowles, the project’s lead architect, Focus will manage the development of the project to make the Horniman more inclusive and accessible, placing environmental sustainability and a commitment to fighting the climate emergency at its heart.

As a result of the project visitors will be encouraged to explore parts of the Gardens that are currently under used and to learn more about sustainability.  It will also increase digital capabilities and a range of nature-based partnerships, events and new attractions such as:

• a Nature Explorers Adventure Zone, introducing a nature-themed play area and children’s café, encouraging learning and wellbeing through exploration and play
• a Sustainable Gardening Zone with new plant nursery and sustainable planting displays encouraging improved health and wellbeing
• a redisplayed Natural History Gallery and indoor Nature Explorers Action Zone, exploring human understanding of and impact upon the planet, and supporting people to make changes on a local and personal level.

Focus partner, Ellie Clarke said: “We are delighted to be appointed on such a major project which will see the Horniman build on its long history of environmental action to realise its ambitions, bringing climate issues to a wider audience and cementing its role within the community and beyond. Focus has extensive experience of working on museums and buildings of historic importance as well as advising on sustainability issues.”

Kirsten Walker, Director of Collections Care and Estates at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, says:

“Nature + Love is an exciting and challenging project, redeveloping different areas of our estate, working with multiple contractors and spanning several years. We are very much looking forward to working with Focus, as they bring their skills to bear helping us navigate these complexities and realise our plans.”

Focus is a multi-disciplinary company offering a range of services across different sectors. Focus divides its services into three sections – Create, Deliver and Assess – and offers funding, business planning and economic development through the Create division, and quantity surveying, project management and building surveying through the Deliver department. The Focus Assess team advises on sustainable buildings, building physics, compliance and planning, and on-site testing.