The National Trust

The visitor centre is a ‘gateway’ building defining the pay perimeter to the Arboretum whilst providing visitors with facilities to orientate, educate, rest and refresh themselves before entering or leaving the woods.

The visitor centre plan has been carefully composed to welcome visitors from the opposing directions of the footpath and the new car park around a carefully landscaped and planted ‘tea garden’.

The roof form has been inspired by the trees that tower over the building. A low lying, pitched roof form is supported by slender ‘trunk’ like timber columns. The canopy roof is entirely clad in timber shingles.