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Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre, Wales Building, Project, News, Design
Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre Wales : Architecture
Development by Ray Hole Architects in Wales, Europe
Hafod Eryri
2009
Ray Hole Architects
'The Highest Building in the UK'
Snowdon Summit - Café and Visitor
Centre

Hafod Eryri, the new building on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
was formally opened to the public in June 2009. At 1085m this unique
visitor centre is the highest building in the UK, responding to one
of the most extreme climatic locations in the world. It offers people
of all ages and abilities the opportunity to experience a truly stunning
environment. The new building is a replacement for the old café
which had reached the end of its life. It has been carefully sculpted
to optimise the volume and energy requirements, using natural stone
from the area to withstand the harsh weather and reduce both its visual
and wind signature.

Snowdon summit was only accessible for construction via an existing
100 year old narrow gauge railway (helicopters were ruled out on ground
of safety). The extreme weather also meant that the summit could only
be reach during the summer months from April to October. Given the
logistical complications and relatively small construction window,
the building was erected off site in a large warehouse near Shotton,
before being carefully dismantled and taken to the summit. This enabled
the design team and contractor to effectively test and perfect the
construction techniques at sea level so that there were no surprises
on the mountain.

Snowdon Summit Café and Visitor Centre images / information
from Ray Hole Architects
Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre - Building Information
Materials: granite, welsh slate (from Blaenau Ffestiniog)
Altitude: 1085m
Formal title: Hafod Eryri
Design: architect Ray Hole
Cost: £8.35m
Key feature: the view
Key Detail: Snowdons shape was formed by ice text
written in slate within the granite floor
Unveiled by: First Minister Rhodri Morgan
The original Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre
1930s
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis
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Welsh Buildings - Selection
Welsh National Assembly, Cardiff
2006
Richard Rogers Partnership

picture : Katsuisha Kida © The Photographer
Welsh National Assembly Building
Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin
2008
Sergison Bates Architects

image : Dewi Lloyd © Ruthin Craft Centre
Ruthin Craft Centre

World Architecture : e-architect
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Comments / photos for the Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre Wales Architecture
page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk
Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre Building : page
- adrian welch / isabelle lomholt |
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