The Rowardennan Visitor Facility, Loch Lomond
The Rowardennan Visitor Facility, with its curved walls and swept roof form, is set within woodland on a small rise between the loch and the foot of Ben Lomond. The building meets the path from the pier that leads to the ben and forms part of The West Highland Way. There is a small exhibition area providing local information and an office and work room for the Park Wardens.
The building is constructed mainly using locally sourced materials. The peg-jointed oak frame, using trees felled within a few hundred yards of the site, supports a timber roof structure covered with re-used Aberfoyle slates. The low stone walls are built off the formation level in lime mortar. Above the stone base the external walls are formed in traditional cob, finished externally with lime harling and lime wash, and internally with clay plaster. Natural oil based paints are used on the joinery work.
A principal function of the Facility is the provision of toilets. Because there is no mains drainage in the vicinity, and a soak-away system could contaminate nearby Loch Lomond, a composting toilet system was chosen, the first time for a public building in Scotland. The project was carried out in association with Richard Shorter Architects.
