Arbroath Abbey Visitor Reception, Angus
Simpson & Brown won a design competition for the Arbroath Abbey Visitor Reception Building in 1999. The scheme included a new building with visitor facilities, retail area, audio-visual exhibition space and viewing gallery, together with external landscaping and new interpretation throughout the Abbey site.
The aim was to create a building with minimal impact on the environment thus the construction of the new building makes use of natural materials - stone, timber, glass and a green, planted sedum roof.
In response to the challenging and sensitive site, the new building form is a layered 'soft' horizontal building, contrasting with the high vertical mass of the Abbey. To achieve this, the building steps back in three volumes slowly rising up, each space within gaining height and light until it finally cantilevers over the rear graveyard wall, giving views of the Abbey behind. This view of the Abbey grounds is key to the design and helps the visitors understand the layout of the Abbey buildings before they set out to explore them.
Work commenced in April 2000 and the Visitor Reception Centre was completed in July 2001. It has received awards from the Dundee Architecture Institute and the Angus Design Awards Scheme.
