The aim of Calke Explore was to provide a new visitor experience for those wanting to get closer to nature by exploring the outdoors and to reduce pressure on the heritage core of the Calke Estate by spreading visitors across the wider site. Having worked with the National Trust on a variety of other projects, the team approached us to design the scheme to ensure their growing number of visitors have the best access to the full Calke Abbey landscape.
The brief required a range of amenities to provide visitors with all they needed for an outdoor adventure in one place, without needing to go the main house. The phased design includes a visitor orientation space, cycle hire, toilets, food and drink outlet with plenty of outdoor seating and covered shelters for year-round enjoyment.
The sensitive wetland site is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve and so a ‘light touch’ design approach was adopted. The new facilities can be dismantled and removed from the site in future, allowing the wetland setting to be fully reinstated. Timber, felled from the estate and milled locally, was used to clad the buildings in different ways, reducing environmental impact and reflecting the woodland setting.
National Trust
Since opening, the site has proved extremely popular with visitors who want to explore the outdoors at Calke Abbey Estate and is now a go-to base for those looking for an outdoor adventure on the cycle trails or walks. Importantly, this new base has done exactly what it was designed for; reducing pressure on the main house and helping the National Trust to manage and conserve the wider estate.
If you would like to have a chat with us about your project or want to learn more about the services we offer, we’d love you to get in touch.
design@ajaltd.co.uk
0115 841 8418