CASTLE ESPIE

The challenge for the Haslam + Co. was to marry the domestic scale and intimacy of the retained buildings with a new form that gave a stronger identity, improved the facilities and provided for greater entrance visibility to the Centre. This was achieved with a new east-west linear building in the form of a long Great Hall replaces an awkwardly positioned shed and connects each of the remaining buildings.

This Hall provides the new entrance facilities, shop, event space and café. Its cranked roof form is both functional and architectonic: it responds to the domestic scale of the south facing courtyards and existing buildings whilst rising to give a strong presence to the north and the view across the ponds to Strangford Lough.

The lower roof section on the north side defines more intimate spaces within the café and service spaces adjacent to the shop and entrance.

Three external spaces are defined in the proposal: the arrivals courtyard with threshold pool, the paved courtyard for the café and to the west the lawn of the event space.

Completed: 2009