Sevenoaks Nature & Wellbeing centre

Kent | UK

Status  Competition 2017

Client  Kent Wildlife Trust

Value  £3M

The proposal draws a strategy, a concept rather than a defined project. It shows an attitude to face the delicate context we need to operate in. Thus, and with the intention of enhancing the surrounding landscape, we would propose simple and modest geometries: Just by tearing the landscape with a minimal gesture, we would be able to solve the visitor centre needs, housing -not only the suggested internal uses- but also providing meeting places, sheltered areas or sightseeing points...

The building would be much more than just a building. It will perform as a landmark, a gateway to the reserve, a shelter, an outdoor exhibition/information point or one of the numerous viewpoints overlooking the landscape in the area. The strategy, allows us to respond to all the suggested needs, beyond the mere resolution of a particular brief, providing enough flexibility to accommodate further adjustments, always under the same principles of sheltering indoors/outdoors program in a gateway/viewpoint minimal structure.

We would like to see it as a LAND ART performance, as a mark in the woods, a defined line combining all the required uses beyond a brief.