The Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum will next week open to the public – in what it claims is its most significant development since it moved to South Kensington in 1881

Danish practice CF Møller Architects’ design includes a dramatic 65m-long, eight-storey cocoon at the centre of the building. The facility will safeguard 17 million insect and 3 million plant specimens. Turner & Townsend, Arup and Fulcrum Consulting were also on the team, with BAM the main contractor.