The Sainsbury Laboratory

de Steve Rose

The new Sainsbury Laboratory in Cambridge's Botanic Garden, opening in late 2011, will be the leading international centre for the study of plant science, and enabled by the bequest of the Sainsbury family. The book is divided into three sections; science, architecture and art. The science refers to the scientific practice of the laboratory, the architecture to the cutting-edge building and the art to the profiled artists who are involved in the project. The Sainsbury Laboratory provides a brief history of plant science, with Darwinist theory setting the context for the centre and todays research. The Botanic Garden first opened in Cambridge in 1762. It was shortly after this that Professor John Stevens Henslow first undertook his studies into plants, and planted trees to use as teaching aids; amongst his students was Charles Darwin. Henslow's teachings in Cambridge are thought to be the inspiration by which Darwin set out his own thinking. Both Henslows and Darwins plant specimens are housed in the Herbarium at the laboratory, which holds a collection of over one million plant specimens from all over the world and from throughout the history of scientific plant study. The Sainsbury Laboratory discusses the architecture of the Sainsbury Laboratory designed and built by Stanton Williams Architects, with sketches and photographs of the building from conception to completion. The Art section of the book includes interviews with the three artists specially commissioned to provide installations at the Laboratory Norman Ackroyd, Susanna Heron and William Pye. The books sections are written by different experts in the field and include a foreword by Lord David Sainsbury and interviews with American plant scientist Elliott Meyerowitz, laboratory specialists and the architects involved in the project. Beautifully illustrated, The Sainsbury Laboratory provides an in-depth look at the important fields of plant science, public art and architecture.