Visitor centre for the Nant Yr Arian Forrest

The proposal for a Visitor Centre at this Forest Enterprise site in mid-Wales, takes as its inspiration the soaring red kites that have made the forest so popular with visitors.

The Nant yr Arian building replaced an existing temporary facility and includes a shop, cafeteria and seminar room. Shower & changing rooms are provided for cyclists, with a cyclist’ hire/workshop at loft level.

The building is sited on the hillside, overlooking the lake and kite-feeding zone on the far shore. Set amongst larch and fir, a vehicle track skirts the building at high level, used by the walkers and cyclists to gain entry into the forest.

The client’s brief for an exemplary ‘sustainable’ building is reflected in the choice of materials, design and building systems. A low maintenance ‘living’ roof collects rainwater for recycling. Wood chip is used as the energy source for space heating and hot water.

The primary structure is in round wood with turfed roofs supported on Glulam beams.

• Year : 2005
• Client : Forest Enterprise
• Status : Completed
• Location : Aberystwyth