Gibside
Visitor Hub
The project entailed designing an information centre for a new visitor attraction and lookout tower at an undisclosed rural area. The brief for the centre was to create a temporary structure, of specified size, at the entrance of the new site, linked to the adjacent wall.
Gibside, The Process.
The Idea.
Several structures were conceptualised meeting the size criteria. In order to maximise the light and flow, the split building concept was selected. This split space also created a courtyard to the site entrance further enhancing the visitor experience, with a linked tower providing views of the site.
The Development.
During the development stage, consideration was given to access and flow, including the ability for disabled visitors to immerse themselves in the experience. One imaginative design feature was the incorporation of a mirror in the inside roof space, providing a “sneak preview” of the site from the visitors centre before entering the site.
The Outcome.
The final design was presented using SketchUp and Indigo rendering software, providing a scaled 3D rendered visualisation of the design. The design provides an attractive and interesting entrance to an exciting new site, with concepts that are unusual and will spark the imagination of the visitors.
Concept Diagrams.
For the concept diagrams, we were tasked with creating a series of scaled plans that explain the space and how it relates to the site. Diagrammatic studies were produced, detailing how the structure interacted with the existing walled structure of the site, visitors circulating around the space and light/shadow to show the path of the sun throughout the day and how it affects the structure. Floor plans were also drawn and partially rendered to show the interior space.
