Giant´s Causeway Visitor Facilities

International Architectural Design Competition

Mitarbeit im Büro STATION C23, Leipzig
Auslober: Departement of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
2005

site plan

visitors movement

floor plans

perspectives

1. The visitor enters the car- and bus parking spaces; there is also sufficient space for drop-off facilities.

 

2. The parking space seamlessly becomes part of the ascend to the buildings roof-scape, where the main entrance is situated. The building is entered from the top, leading the visitor downwards and thus prolonging the descend down the cliff towards the shore and Giant´s Causeway itself.

 

3. On top of the building and immediately accessible from the outdoor-spaces is the catering area with a “Café with a view”, including terrace and picnic-areas on the roof-scape.

 

4. Along its way through the building, the visitor finds all the necessary features: first the tourism information centre, providing a open exhibition-space and views towards the sea and hinterland.

 

5. The interpretation and education facilities are the next feature for the visitor to experience, the spaces can be seen already from the entrance and include two learning suites. Visitors are able to bypass this area on a shortcut.

 

6. Following the route through the building, visitors will reach the retail area before leaving the building and continuing their way down to the shore. The shops are directly linked to the external spaces, including separate delivery access.

 

7. Resembling the idea of the historical “Causeway Tram”, a fully automatically operated light-railway connects the visitor facilities with the Giant´s Causeway. Parallel to the track, a promenade leads down the cliff.

 

8.+9. The visitors experience of the Giant´s Causeway, the cliff and cliff path; finally approaching the visitor facilities from the north on the cliff path, having several spectacular views on the landscape and the embedded building.