First Look – Culloden Memorial Battlefield Project – Aerial Site Photo
Photo Credit: John Hamilton
On the site of the last battle fought on British soil, Gareth Hoskins Architects’ international, competition winning design for a major new visitor centre at Culloden is fast becoming a reality. Morrison Construction is on track to complete the 2,300 sqm, single-storey attraction later this year, during Scotland’s Year of Highland Culture. The project for the charity the National Trust for Scotland uses the landscape along with an interpretive exhibition to tell the story of the battle.
The building has been named as a project of ‘international significance’ by the Scottish Executive and has received £3,750,000 in support from them along with The European Regional Development Fund - £2,300,000, HIE Inverness & East Highland - £350,000 and Bòrd na Gàidhlig - £220,000. Together with £800,000 pledged by The National Trust for Scotland and an international fundraising campaign of £1,950,000, the total project cost is £9,370,000.
The building will showcase the history of Culloden Battlefield and the surrounding area within uniquely designed exhibition spaces with the added benefit of educational and conference accommodation, café, restaurant, shop and staff facilities.
National Trust for Scotland
As Scotland’s leading conservation charity, The National Trust for Scotland maintains and manages some of the country’s most special places to keep them accessible to everyone.
Culloden is the largest project undertaken by the Trust and reflects the huge impact the Battle of Culloden had on the course of world history. The project involves restoring the Battlefield to how it looked in 1746 and constructing a state-of-the-art visitor centre with interactive exhibition.
Culloden Memorial Battlefield Project : PR from Gareth Hoskins Architects 100707
image from gareth hoskins architects
Culloden Visitor Centre
Building PR 26 Apr 2005
BATTLEFIELD VISITOR CENTRE GETS GO AHEAD
Gareth Hoskins Architects Ltd has received planning permission from Inverness Area Planning Committee for the new visitor attraction and interpretive landscaping at the battlefield site of Culloden, for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).
The new visitor centre will house interpretation of the battle, its prehistory and aftermath, and will include educational and conference facilities, a café, restaurant, shop and staff accommodation. Working closely with NTS, interpretive designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates, archaeologists, landscape architects
and local planning authorities, Gareth Hoskins Architects is developing a strategy for the entire 65 hectare site, which is a scheduled ancient monument, to combine transportation, visitor arrival and facilities, and reinstatement and interpretation of the battlefield landscape. The design looks carefully at visitor experience and understanding, creating an integrated journey of building, artifacts and landscape.
Funding for the project has been secured from the European Regional Development Fund and the Scottish Executive, and is being developed as a model of environmental and sustainable design by the project team. With a start on site towards the end of 2005, the project is due for completion to tie-in with Scotland's Year of Highland Culture 2007.
image from gareth hoskins architects
Culloden Battlefield: Visitor Centre 2004 Building PR
'In 2004 GHA won the competition for new visitor facilities and interpretive landscaping of the battlefield site for the National Trust for Scotland. The new visitor centre will house interpretation of the battle, its prehistory and aftermath. It will also include educational and conference facilities, a café, restaurant, shop and staff accommodation. The project is due for completion for Scotland's Year of Highland Culture 2007. The planning application for the project was submitted on 15 October.' facilities, a café, restaurant, shop and staff accommodation. The project is due for completion for Scotland's Year of Highland Culture 2007. The planning application for the project was submitted on 15 October.
image from gareth hoskins architectsCulloden Battlefield : main page
Gareth Hoskins Architects projects in Edinburgh:-
Museum of Scotland refurbishment
Edinburgh Castle visitor centre
Scottish Architects of the past
Scottish Architecture
Scottish House
Scottish Castles
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
World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe
Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Culloden Visitors Centre architects - Gareth Hoskins
Culloden is maintained by the National Trust for Scotland
Comments / photos for the Culloden Battlefield page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk
Culloden Building - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt