HARDWICK HALL : Derbyshire


A New Visitor Experience



The National Trust invited us to prepare concept designs for new visitor facilities within the Grade 1 listed barn and stable block, which are complete and largely unaltered.

Through analysis of the visitor experience a new route was established which set out a sequence of spaces from new parking areas to the Hall. The barn and stable block were conceived as events along this route and a series of interventions into the listed buildings were proposed. Cafe and plant sales were devised utilising sunny yard spaces to keep visual impact on the setting of the Hall to a minimum.

A 'green' servicing strategy using passive techniques and renewable energy sources was balanced with the approach to conservation.

This scheme was shortlisted but not ultimately selected.


The new visitor route Alterations to the barn A new link space A new gazebo acts as a gateway