The Wetland Centre is both a ‘gateway’ and ‘destination’ building, welcoming visitors to the region. It will provide facilities to orientate, educate, and refresh visitors before they visit the wetland reserves. The main activities and spaces of the Wetland Centre are accommodated in a single ‘barn’ like building which is set back from the road on a slightly raised concrete base due to the poor ground conditions and to mitigate flood risks associated with building in low lying wetland areas.

The form of the main building is inspired by its context. The undulating timber clad roof form evokes the trees and hills seen across the wide open wetland areas. The low carbon roof canopy is made from timber and supported on slender ‘trunk’ like timber columns. Below the canopy the building provides generous and flexible spaces that relate well to each other and open to the landscaped areas that surround the building.