photos from Nicoll Russell Studios

It is both contextual in terms of scale and materiality, growing from the shore front into the town where it opens up its public activities to a new square formed to the side of the high street. The centre provides a platform for a restaurant at first floor level overlooking the harbour and offers a landmark in the form of an illuminated lantern, created by a corner meeting room. The lantern faces the shore and the many visitors who arrive by ferry at the terminal opposite. That is a literal beacon whose theme is repeated throughout the client's brand identity. an Lanntair, because of its location is the most flexible of all of our arts buildings in order that a range of exhibitions, events, cinema and performances can be hosted in the one building, making it both vibrant and sustainable. The most surprising feature of this approach is the walls of the auditorium which can be flown into the 'gods', to dissolve the boundary between restaurant, bar, foyer and audience. This feature is particularly important during cabarets and ceilidhs, but it has also been used to great dramatic effect during performances.