Crumbling arches and columns at the ruins of an ancient Cistercian monastery near York have influenced the design of a visitor centre in it’s grounds, designed by Edinburgh based architecture firm Simpson & Brown.
A grand nave-like entrance hall has been slotted between existing visitor facilities at Rievaulx Abbey, where a single piece of carved stone from the abbey ruins is displayed in a large gable window.
Housing a café and a shop, the vaulted hall is formed from a series of splayed timber arches, which, with their positioning control perspectives and views of the abbey, and manipulate sunlight in the space.
Situated amongst a group of trees close to the ancient ruins, the centre’s glazed external walls emphasise the whitewashed glulam timber frame.
A steeply pitched, zinc clad roof with large overhanging eaves protects the atrium space, and is supported by the ribcage-like structure within.
Externally, the overall form of the building and it’s black timber cladding is intended to echo the architecture of local agricultural buildings.
Existing museum spaces have been revamped and reconsidered to meet modern curatorial standards, helping visitors to better engage with Rievaulx and it’s history.
Simpson & Brown are an Edinburgh based architecture firm who specialise in regeneration and conservation, their projects frequently involving archaeological elements.
Photography by Giles Rocholl.