CaSA, Sizergh Castle Visitor’s Centre, Cumbria, simple design with timber cladding

This project was undertaken in collaboration with Feilden Clegg Bradley.

The site chosen for this visitor facility is at the gateway between the new car park and the entrance to the grounds, which will be relocated to a point where the visitor is able to see the central tower and the flag post of the castle upon leaving the new centre. On returning from the castle and grounds people follow a route which leads back from the garden towards the old barn to the south east. The estate planning is critical in this sense in order to preserve the presence of the main building. Read more...

The building takes on a very simple linear form sitting against an existing stone wall with a verandah facing west which unites all the principle public spaces - the information centre and shop, WCs and cafe. The verandah also serves to provide an external covered (and slightly raised) seating area for the cafe to open out onto and also provides dislay facilities for plant sales. Budget constraints and architectural philosophy have led to the buiding having a 'lightweight agricultural' appearance.

The cladding material uses larch boarding traditionally sawn to random widths and sourced from the estate. The roof is covered in fibre cement with metal edges as a derivation of the agricultural aesthetic and the palatte of colours used throughout makes reference to the lilacs and green greys typical to this locality.

Location:

Cumbria

Size:

340 Sq m

Key info:

Cultural building | Collaboration