Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Improving way-finding and enhancing spaces for one of Birmingham's top attractions.
Founded in 1829, Birmingham Botanical Gardens is one of the city’s most well-known horticultural and historical attractions. The Gardens offer something for everyone, from their elegant glasshouses containing tropical rainforests and rare species to a bandstand, tearoom and Japanese Gardens, all surrounded by beautiful landscaping.
Studio Denley worked with Birmingham Botanical Gardens to design signage and way-finding to improve visitor interaction. Where some areas of the Gardens were being rejuvenated, hoarding graphics were designed to conceal the places being transformed. These graphics enhanced their spaces by both brightening up the areas and providing extra information to visitors. The design and placement of the hoardings achieved the tricky balance of standing out while also not overshadowing the flora.
Correct signage and way-finding is essential for any attraction negotiating visitor flow and interaction. The new signage at the Gardens helped to curate a visitor flow so that none of the features were missed, as well as informing visitors of the garden concepts and the ideas behind the planting.
The new signage improved visitors’ understanding of the gardening works being carried out. They removed concerns of garden staff that visitors might think an area was untidy through neglect whilst simultaneously improving the visitor experience of the gardens. The stake signs were designed with rounded corners for additional safety and to give them a more welcoming appearance.
The new signage and hoarding has been well received by visitors and staff. The team at the gardens feel that the hoardings have vastly improved the areas where they have been installed – making what was once unsightly visually appealing and welcoming.
“Studio Denley were a pleasure to work with. Andrew understood the challenges for the Botanic Gardens and listened to what the team needed. We are delighted with the results and know that our audiences appreciate the additional interpretation too. The Gardens would have no hesitation in recommending Studio Denley.”
Sara Blair-Manning, Chief Executive
Additional photographs of the gardens ⓒ Whitefoot Photography.
