Functional design
Alfred Waterhouse made artistic features out of even the most basic practical fittings. His ornamental vent covers are a fine example of this. Waterhouse also put golden flying fishes on the lightning conductors on the towers, and dragonflies, beetles and trilobites on the air vents outside the building.
Clean air and heating
Learn about the innovative ventilation and heating system Waterhouse introduced, which is similar to systems being adopted in environmentally-friendly buildings today.
Bomb damage
Find out about bomb damage caused during World War II and how Waterhouse’s system helped feed the resulting fire.
Herbaria
Discover the inside secrets of the Museums herbaria with their millions of specimens and artworks.
Behind the scenes
In this video, Museum botanist Sandy Knapp gives an insight into the work that goes on behind the Herbarium doors.