Home > Tim Smit

Born in Scheveningen, he was educated in England, studying archaeology at Durham. He worked as an archaeologist before taking an unexpected leap into the music business, working as both a song-writer and producer. In 1987 he moved with his family to Cornwall and became involved with John Nelson and Heligan. During his time at Heligan, Smit wrote a popular book about the project.

Later he started the Eden Project, near St Austell, an £80 million initiative to build three transparent biomes in an old china clay pit. The biomes contain different eco-climates loosely based on the different climates found throughout the world - tropical jungle, temperate, and desert. Eden professes to educate people about environmental matters and encourages a greater understanding and empathy with these matters. Smit was mainly involved in raising the needed funds; the site design was by Nicholas Grimshaw .