stonehenge visitor centre by denton corker marshall opens

stonehenge visitor centre by denton corker marshall opens
photo © peter cook
all images courtesy of denton corker marshall

stonehenge’s long-awaited visitor centre has opened its doors to the public, a lightweight and delicate structure situated in the rolling english countryside. completed by denton corker marshall, the building provides the 5,000 year old monument with dedicated on-site educational facilities and exhibition space, designed to accommodate over one million guests each year.

the new visitor centre offers dedicated educational facilities and exhibition space
photo © peter cook

located 1.5 miles from the ancient site, the scheme is envisioned as a prelude to the famous stone circle, starkly contrasting their construction and appearance, as not to detract from their striking visual resonance. the unobtrusive structure comprises three separate enclosures, united under an undulating and perforated canopy, which rests on 211 irregularly placed columns. clad in zinc panels, this roof plane has been shaped to mirror the region’s topographical landforms.

programs are divided between the three enclosed pods, clad in different materials
photo © peter cook

programs are divided between the three enclosed pods, the largest of which houses museum displays and service facilities and is constructed from sweet chestnut timber. opposite, educational resources are accommodated alongside a new café and further retail outlets in a glazed volume. clad in zinc, a third much smaller pavilion sits between the two larger units, serving as ticket booth.

the scheme is united under a canopy which rests on 211 irregularly placed columns
photo © peter cook

ensuring the sustainability of the project, it was established that the structure should be as minimal and sensitive to its surroundings as possible, whereby if the building were to be removed, it would not leave a lasting scar on the landscape. the employment of steel columns and lightweight walls minimized the depth of the foundations, allowing the design to sit on a slender concrete raft.

the roof plane naturally shades the building, promoting natural ventilation
photo © peter cook

recyclable and renewable materials have been used alongside locally sourced components, such as regionally grown chestnut and limestone cut from nearby quarries. in addition, the large canopy naturally shades the building, promoting natural ventilation, while a ground source heat pump provides warmth for the centre during cooler months.

educational resources are accommodated alongside a new café and retail outlets
photo © peter cook

the visitor centre offers views over the rolling english countryside
photo © peter cook

a communal workspace
photo © peter cook

steel columns and lightweight walls allow the design to rest on a slender concrete raft
photo © peter cook

‘stonehenge visitor centre’ illuminated at night
photo © peter cook

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project info:

architects: denton corker marshall
project associate: angela dapper
location: airman’s corner, shrewton, wiltshire, UK
type: public building
client: english heritage
donors: heritage lottery fund, garfield weston foundation, the linbury trust, the wolfson foundation, national trust, the monument trust, the headley trust

tender date: march 2012
start on site date: august 2012
contract duration: 16 months
form of contract and/or procurement: traditional (JCT standard form)
overall cost: £27m
1. visitor centre £6.9m
2. ancillary building £1.1m
3. hub and a344 works £1.2m

structural engineers: sinclair knight merz
M&E consultant: norman disney young
quantity surveyor: firmingers
planning supervisor: chris blandford associates
landscape architects: chris blandford associates
exhibition designers: haley sharpe design
project managers: gardiner + theobald
main contractor: vinci construction UK