A £10M tropical greenhouse was unveiled yesterday as the centerpiece of a city's regeneration project.

The opening of Sunderland's Winter Gardens and Museum tomorrow will be a showcase for more than 1,500 of the world's rarest and most exotic plants, thriving in three different climatic zones.

Star specimens include an 8m (24ft) Bismarckia Palm and an 80-year-old Sicilian olive tree.

At the heart of it is a stunning 10m (32ft) high sculpture by internationally renowned artist William Pye.

The sculpture is a continuous column of polished stainless steel with water cascading down its sides to reflect the surrounding plants.

The Winter Gardens 2001 replaces the original 1877 Winter Gardens which had to be demolished after suffering severe bomb damage in the Second World War.

Developed by Sunderland City Council, the Winter Gardens are being opened after help from the Heritage Lottery Fund which contributed £3.82m to the project, and a total of £200m to the regeneration of the City.

The Winter Gardens have been under construction for two years, a project inspired by the Great Exhibition's Crystal Palace.

The building - a gleaming glass rotunda constructed from 125 tonnes of steel and aluminium - is equally impressive.

An even bigger surprise for past visitors is the spectacular transformation of the interior of the museum, which would be unrecognisable to its original Victorian creators.

Eight new galleries and three old ones redisplayed, tell the story of Sunderland from the prehistoric past to the present day with the aid of videos and computer reconstructions.

David Fleming, director of Tyne and Wear Museums, said: "Sunderland Museum was first opened 155 years ago and is one of the oldest institutions in the North East. It is fitting that as part of the regeneration of Sunderland, the museum should be completely reinvented as a 21st Century attraction, while at the same time, continuing to show all the wonderful objects that have fascinated eight generations." A celebratory carnival takes place tomorrow and Sunday in the adjoining Mowbray Park, which features non-stop music and entertainment for expected visitors to the revamped Museum and Winter Gardens.