Earth Centre, Doncaster facts for kids

The Earth Centre, Doncaster was a special place that aimed to teach and entertain people about environmental issues and how to live in a sustainable way. It was built on a huge 400-acre site in Conisbrough, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. This area used to be a coal mine and was considered one of the most environmentally damaged places in the country.

The Earth Centre opened in 1999. It received money from big organizations like the Millennium Commission, the European Commission, and English Partnerships. Sadly, it closed its doors in 2004.

How it Started

The Earth Centre was built on land that used to be the Cadeby Main Colliery, a coal mine. This mine started in 1889 and stopped working in 1986.

Jonathan Smales, who used to work for Greenpeace, and John Letts, a publisher, had an idea. They wanted to create a museum for the new millennium. This museum would focus on the basic elements of earth, fire, water, and all kinds of life. Jonathan Smales worked for 10 years to get funding for this project.

The project received a lot of money. It got £21 million from the Millennium Commission and £10 million from the European Commission. English Partnerships gave £5.5 million. Other sources added more, bringing the total to £42 million.

In 1997, a company called Derek Lovejoy Partnership created a big plan for the site. It was located in the valley of the River Don, Yorkshire. Work started that autumn with a big project to clean up the land, led by the Arup Group.

Amazing Design

The main plan for the Earth Centre focused on how energy, farming, and waste recycling would work. It also included areas for play and art. This plan helped decide where different themed areas and pathways would be.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios helped with the overall plan and designed the main entrance buildings. Their goal was to show how environmental design could work. They wanted to integrate a low-energy building with a clear solar power generator. This made a strong statement at the entrance. It showed how important it was to make electricity on-site using solar panels. This helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

The Landscape

Grant Associates were the landscape architects for the project. They worked to coordinate the land levels and place the buildings. They also designed both the hard surfaces and the green areas. Their idea was to "bring the site back to life."

Grant Associates designed the site using principles of energy efficiency and saving water. They also focused on recycling and using materials that don't pollute. The site had a clever water management system. It collected rainwater and treated, stored, and recycled water. This water was used for watering plants, water features, and creating homes for wildlife.

The design also included areas of productive woodland and natural grasslands. There were also wetlands around a central area of unique gardens. These new gardens used organic farming methods. They explored unusual plant combinations that offered benefits like shelter, wildlife habitats, food, and timber. Special structures were built using local stone, green oak wood, and steel. These gave the site a modern look that still fit with the historic landscape around it.

The Solar Canopy

The Solar Canopy was a very impressive part of the Earth Centre. It had the largest collection of solar cells in the UK. This canopy connected the restaurant building to the Planet Earth Galleries, which were built into the ground.

The Solar Canopy was made from a special timber frame using round wooden poles. It had a unique shape with many supporting posts. This created an exciting contrast with the simpler buildings nearby. The roof of the canopy was made of glass with solar cells inside. About 25% of the sunlight could pass through the canopy. This project received funding from the European Union and the Millennium Commission.

Planet Earth Galleries

The Planet Earth Galleries were built underground. They had a huge system for air distribution and storing heat, called a labyrinth. Air for the building was pulled through this labyrinth. This system cooled the air in summer and warmed it in winter. This meant the building stayed comfortable inside without needing air conditioning. It also had lower carbon emissions than regular ventilation.

The Planet Earth Galleries featured exhibitions that showed the environmental damage happening to Earth. One notable display was by artist George Tsypin. It included moving parts, videos, and 200 sculptures.

The Pavilion

The "Waterworks" pavilion showed how water could be cleaned using a "living machine." After some initial treatment, wastewater from the site flowed through a series of tanks. Water plants in these tanks cleaned the water until it was safe to drink.

The pavilion had a simple design with a steel frame. This frame rested on concrete walls that divided the tanks. The roof and walls were made of lightweight ETFE material. This allowed for a slim structure and let a lot of UV light through. People saw it as a fascinating example of how water is recycled.

Awards

The Arrivals building, which included the Solar Canopy, and the Planet Earth Galleries won the 2002 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award. The judges praised how "sustainability meets aesthetics." They said it showed that environmental design could create great architecture.

What Happened Next

More Attractions and Closure

The Earth Centre reopened in May 2001. More attractions were added as more money became available. These included a pirate ship, a crazy golf course, and an indoor "Amazon Adventure" play area.

School visits continued, and many people were initially interested in the new facilities. However, by 2003, it became clear that not enough visitors were coming. By 2004, more and more staff were leaving. It was obvious that the centre could not continue to operate.

In September 2004, the Earth Centre closed to the public. Only pre-booked school groups were allowed to visit. By the end of October, the Earth Centre was put into the hands of administrators, meaning it was officially closing down.

After the Closure

The site was used as an important location in the TV show Survivors. It appeared in the show in December 2008 and again in 2009.

The Site is Sold

In February 2010, it was reported that Doncaster Council was spending £200,000 a year to maintain the empty site. The centre was put up for sale in October 2010. On March 23, 2011, an educational company called Kingswood bought it. They planned to create an activity centre for school children and hoped to create 200 jobs. The new activity centre opened in 2012.

The car park area south of the River Don has since been sold to a company that builds houses. They plan to build 177 homes there.

Images for kids

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  The site in 2008

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  Abandoned buildings (2010)