The Eden Project, home of the world-famous Biomes, is the top British landmark that defines the British skyline
Eden Project has been hailed as one of the top British landmark of the 21st Century.
British Airways’ High Life, in association with The Independent, has identified the top landmarks that define Britain in the 21st century – and the Eden Project has come out on top.
Over a three-month campaign, readers were invited to name the buildings – both historic and new – they felt exemplify the United Kingdom.
The campaign received over 2,000 entries and 150 landmarks were nominated by the public spanning the whole of the UK, including the Millennium Bridge, Grizedale Forest Sculpture Park and Edinburgh Castle.
The list of nominated landmarks was then narrowed down by a distinguished panel of experts from across Britain including president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stephen Hodder; director of London’s Whitechapel Gallery, Iwona Blazwick; architect and RIBA Worldwide and Civic Trust award winner, Will Alsop; BBC and ITV broadcaster Julia Bradbury and editor for High Life, Kerry Smith.
The panel decided that the Eden Project, home of the world-famous Biomes, is the top landmark that defines the British skyline.
Sir Tim Smit, Co-founder of the Eden Project, said of the accolade: “To say Eden is the landmark that most defines 21st century Britain is fantastically humbling.
“There is a rich palette to choose from and Britain as probably the creative capital of the world has set a high bar. British architecture has enjoyed a flowering both at home and abroad that is unparalleled and our architects Grimshaw and their team superbly brought our dream into reality."
Only narrowly missing the top landmark spot was the Angel of the North, followed by Coventry Cathedral in third place. The full list of the top 21 landmarks can be found on highlife.ba.com.
Editor of High Life Kerry Smith said, "The British skyline is moving on at an unprecedented pace – and in the quest to find the landmarks that define Britain in the 21st century, nominations ranged from Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage through to Stonehenge and the Shard. The final 21 landmarks celebrate British heritage along with the creative energy of the present."
