Abernethy Outdoor Centre, Cairngorms
Abernethy Trust
Public
Ongoing
Client
Type
Status
After winning an invited design competition, Pend will lead the design and delivery of a four part phased redevelopment to enhance the centre’s facilities, ensuring its continued progression as part of a five year plan for the centre. The project will introduce new, flexible accommodation, dining, and communal spaces while upgrading existing buildings to meet modern accessibility and sustainability standards.
Process
The phased approach will enable the centre to remain operational throughout, with the first phase delivering two new lodges for 24 guests, alongside the update of existing chalets to support the centre’s training and leadership programmes.
Set within the ancient Caledonian pine forest, the development seeks to blend sensitively with its surroundings, forging a stronger connection to its natural context. The new holistic approach to the design will mark a departure from the previous sequential interventions, prioritising wellbeing through intentional use of timber material and improved light circulation.
Rationalising space is central to the brief, whilst adopting adaptive design principles throughout. Sleeping quarters have been designed in a cellular plan to exist co-dependently of each other, organised uniquely to cater for their guests which could vary between larger school groups, families or private rooms.
Defined by a series of geometrical shaped facades, the envelope of the new dining space hub and sleeping modules will be entirely clad in timber, providing a sharp yet subtle material contrast to the neighbouring manse building, typically comprising white washed masonry and slate roof. The addition brings about a sophisticated and impactful main entrance to the Centre, without overwhelming its original counterpart.
Portal motifs are brought into consideration and key communal and staff areas will now draw in natural light through a series of clerestory windows directly from the adjoining woods. Intentional biophilic spaces are further displayed in the sleeping chalets, dedicating a moment of calm for its guests in the forest facing window seats, and new externally covered areas and walkways promote congregation.
