This is an occasional series on Britain’s most remarkable buildings. Not only the stately homes, palaces and monuments that are part of every tourist itinerary but buildings that are simply worth seeing. Some are well known – although not necessarily for their architecture. Some are less well known – undiscovered gems that are worth a look. Some will take several hours to visit properly; others are not open to the public but merit a few minutes to look at the from the outside. If you know a building you think we should cover, email the editor, charlotte@donowdo.com 

Not one wonderful building but three. The Eden Project hardly counts as an “undiscovered gem” – thousands of people come here every month, and cruise itineraries now include Falmouth in their stops just to visit. Why? Because it is quite simply marvellous.

The impact of the futuristic domes is all the greater because they are invisible until you are right on top of them. The site is in an old china clay quarry, so that the buildings themselves are below the level of the surrounding countryside. As you go through the entrance, the WOW factor is unmistakable. Your first view of the buildings is from above, looking down onto the domes, so huge and yet so delicate, like dandelion clocks glistening in the sun.

Close to, the building is a joy. Aside from the exhibits, the plants in their artificially maintained biospheres, the buildings themselves pay close attention to detail, with hand crafted accessories all echoing the environmental theme of the project.

The newest building, the Education Centre is based on the idea of a growing tree: the lower levels of the building are from stone, reflecting the earth from which the tree is spouting, as you get higher, the stone is replaced with wood, representing the tree itself, until finally the roof created from an intricate web of curved timber beams, based on Fibonacci spirals, a pattern found in many natural forms including the seeds of a sunflower head, pine cones and snail shells.

As with all great building nowadays, the Eden Project comes complete with gift shop – eager to part you from your hard earned dosh.

Must See Buildings has a sister column, Beastly Buildings, looking at those buildings we all love to hate.