Brockholes Visitor Centre
New visitor centre for 106ha wetland reserve between River Ribble and M6 near Preston. Highly sustainable building inserted within embankment of former gravel pit. Includes café/restaurant, shop, gallery, education and conference facilities.
The building is expressed as a giant ‘slot’ cut through the gravel ridge, minimising its impact on the natural landscape- especially the skyline- while giving fine views in both directions across the Reserve and the surrounding countryside.
The jury were impressed by the deceptively simple, clear concept of a ‘window’ in the landscape - a sculpted land-form that completes the quarry; with glazed walls in either side of a long mound giving views over the site / river and a grass roof continuing over the building; as well as the holistic overall approach, car free aspects, and striking jewel-like model.
- Anne Selby - CEO Lancashire Wildlife Trust
CLIENT
Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Northwest Regional Development Agency
Forestry Commission
Tubney Trust
BUDGET
£4m
STATUS
Runner-up, RIBA invited competition
PUBLISHED
Architects’ Journal
TEAM
Benedetti Architects
McDowell+Benedetti (to July 2016)
Michael Hadi Associates
XCO2
Jackson Coles