Rievaulx Abbey Visitor Centre & Museum

Project Description

The aim of the project was to provide improved visitor and staff facilities, and an upgraded museum building to meet modern curatorial standards and encourage visitors into ticketed areas

Constraints on budget and site provided an opportunity to retain and adapt parts of the timber structure of the old visitor centre.

The most significant element of the project is the insertion of a new central hall within the existing L-shaped plan

Rievaulx Abbey now has a beautifully sculpted gateway in the form of a new visitor centre

A series of arches frames and guides visitors as they move towards the ruins of the 12th century abbey, while simple glazed gable ends minimise the physical interruptions between the visitor and the panorama of the ruins

The materials and detail demonstrate a quality of the craftmanship and convey a sense of humility and calmness as if not to disturb the monastic rituals of the abbey behind

The detailing of the internal elements enhance the quality of lights, focus and at the same time, framing and guiding the visitors to experience the natural elements of the immediate setting

RIBA Yorkshire Award Winner 2017

Wood Awards Commercial & Leisure Category Winner 2017