Judges: A strong vision for the building with the initial framed view / arrival experience being particularly striking.

Konishi Gaffney led a design team that were shortlisted in March 2023 for a new national, nature visitor centre on the banks of Loch Lomond. The centre was to comprise an operational building with offices, exhibition & visitor engagement zones, a cafe, public bathrooms, footpath expansion, and car parking along with all necessary utilities connections and building services.

The extraordinary site, 237ha forming part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve, sits on the highland boundary fault and is a broad mix of wetland and woodland habitats, supporting a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Numerous designations included a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Ramsar (a site of international importance for its wetland birds), National Scenic Area and a National Nature Reserve.

We worked with a team of Structural Environmental Engineers, Quantity Surveyor, M&E Engineer, Landscape Architect and Ecologist to prepare a detailed submission. We were commended but didn’t win.