Culloden Battlefield Scotland

World Architecture Festival Awards 2008 : Culture Category Shortlist Memorial wall from Battlefield © Andrew Lee, image from GHA 101008 Visitor Centre © Ewen Weatherspoon, image from GHA 101008 RIAS Best Building in Scotland Award Finalist 2008 © Andrew Lee, images from GHA 290708 Terrace landscape view © Ewen Weatherspoon The Culloden Battlefield Memorial Centre, designed by Gareth Hoskins Architects, is the result of an international design competition which was held by the National Trust for Scotland in 2004. South elevation photo © NTS As the last land battle within the UK, in which King George II’s troops defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite supporters in 1746, the virtually untouched site is of major international and historical significance. Sunny view from battlefield image © Ewen Weatherspoon The project, which includes the reinterpretation and reinstatement of the landscape of the battlefield and a new 1000 sqm museum, was designed in collaboration with international exhibition designers, Ralph Appelbaum Associates, with input from a wide range of historians and archaeologists. South facade photograph © NTS The building will have its official opening on 16th April 2008, the anniversary of the battle. Exhibition photo © NTS Set back from the actual battlefield, the landscape-hugging building is defined by a wave-form roof and a 150m long berm wall that passes through the building and out into the landscape, to define the position of the Government troop line on the actual battlefield. Restaurant internal view © GHA The new centre includes a series of controlled exhibition spaces, educational space, restaurant, shop and support facilities and a landscaped roof platform offers panoramic views over the battlefield, the final resting place for over 1800 soldiers. Sunny view from battlefield picture © GHA The building itself has also been designed as a model of environmental sustainability. It is positioned to reduce wind-chill and take advantage of natural daylight. It’s heavily insulated envelope is clad in locally sourced larch, Caithness stone and site-salvaged field stone, and it is heated by a woodchip burning biomass boiler system, supplied from local forestry sources. Exhibition space photo © NTS Culloden Battlefield Memorial Centre Info from Gareth Hoskins Architects 140308 Culloden Memorial Battlefield Project : background information Earlier CGI's from gareth hoskins architects: Gareth Hoskins Architects projects in Edinburgh:- Museum of Scotland refurbishment Edinburgh Castle visitor centre Directions The Battlefield is 3 miles southeast of Inverness, Scotland; 12 miles from Nairn. Culloden Battlefield: Background The battle was between the Crown and the Jacobites, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. It took place on April 16th, 1746 on this barren moor. The Jacobites were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland with heavy losses to Scotland's establishment; around 1200 people were reputedly killed. Culloden is often referred to as the last battle in the UK. Culloden Visitor Centre Facilities: restaurant, audio-visual show, bookshop, exhibition Opening Times: all year except Jan summer - 9am to 6pm ; winter - 10am to 4pm Contact Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre: 01463 790 607 Inverness Architecture Culloden Battlefield Visitors Centre architects - Gareth Hoskins Culloden is maintained by the National Trust for Scotland