In Their Own Words

The Butterfly House, a division of
the Missouri Botanical Garden

Technical sophistication combines with soaring beauty

Christner designed this new butterfly house and education center for a sunny meadow in St. Louis County's Faust Park. Visitors to this beautiful sanctuary, which is home to 60 species of butterfly and tropical flowering plants, experience the wonders of a fragile ecosystem within the conservatory's graceful glass and steel structure. In response to the educational mission of the butterfly house, Christner also incorporated a theater, a multi-purpose education room, and large exhibit hall.

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Size: 8,000 sf conservatory, 8,500 sf education center
Status: Completed 1998
Awards: 1998 AIA Central States Region Award, Special Citation for Architectural Design, 1998 National Council of Structural Engineers Association, Meritorious Structure Award

<p>The Butterfly House is highly visible from the road, and has become an instantly recognizable architectural icon in St. Louis. We oriented the building due south to maximize solar collection through the laminated insulating glass panels that clad the structure.</p>

The Butterfly House is highly visible from the road, and has become an instantly recognizable architectural icon in St. Louis. We oriented the building due south to maximize solar collection through the laminated insulating glass panels that clad the structure.

<p>To plan for the integration of the Butterfly House into Faust Park, Christner developed a park Master Plan. The plan allows for the creative continuation of the present park facilities, including the 1904 World's Fair carousel.</p>

To plan for the integration of the Butterfly House into Faust Park, Christner developed a park Master Plan. The plan allows for the creative continuation of the present park facilities, including the 1904 World's Fair carousel.

<p>A distinctive feature reminiscent of Victorian greenhouses, the curved roof minimizes the chance of butterflies (which cannot fly backwards) getting caught in corners. Covering the interior glass, a layer of clear, nylon mesh keeps the butterflies' delicate wings away from the humid surface of the enclosing glass.</p>

A distinctive feature reminiscent of Victorian greenhouses, the curved roof minimizes the chance of butterflies (which cannot fly backwards) getting caught in corners. Covering the interior glass, a layer of clear, nylon mesh keeps the butterflies' delicate wings away from the humid surface of the enclosing glass.

<p>Tropical flowering plants provide essential elements of suitable habitats for the butterflies, which are on display year-round. The building systems create the warm, high-humidity environment required by the butterflies.</p>

Tropical flowering plants provide essential elements of suitable habitats for the butterflies, which are on display year-round. The building systems create the warm, high-humidity environment required by the butterflies.

<p>The building systems create the warm, high-humidity environment required by the butterflies and tropical plants. Placed atop the center vault, a mechanically controlled ridge vent system releases hot air during the summer.</p>

The building systems create the warm, high-humidity environment required by the butterflies and tropical plants. Placed atop the center vault, a mechanically controlled ridge vent system releases hot air during the summer.

<p>Structural elements above the display area and gift shop echo the butterfly wing shapes of the conservatory. Nearby display areas include both permanent and temporary displays for educational purposes.</p>

Structural elements above the display area and gift shop echo the butterfly wing shapes of the conservatory. Nearby display areas include both permanent and temporary displays for educational purposes.