Visitors Centre with a Touch of Royalty

Av Peter Nilsson
Publicerad Wednesday 24 September, 2008.

A unanimous jury considered White’s competition entry to be a “playful, intriguing, poetic way of meeting the program’s operational demands. The concept is strong and attractive and the building opens up for new and different ways of building and conceiving exhibitions.”

The Naturum concept was introduced on the initiative of the Environment Protection Agency at the beginning of the 1970s. Naturum are informative visitor centres at Sweden’s heritage sites, national parks and nature reserves and are now located at 25 sites around Sweden.

The placing of Victoria House at Läckö castle was considered perfect by Västra Götaland’s county council, headed by county governor Göte Bernhardsson. The proposal to place the centre at Läckö castle with its proximity to Lake Vänern’s archipelago made the decision easy.

“The location also sets major demands,” says Ulla Antonsson, who together with Mattias Lind is part of White’s architectural competition team. A Naturum usually means that visitors are led into the countryside with information about country walks etc. This is also about a royal gift and about relating to the historical and cultural imprint of the region.

The Naturum is designed with nature as its starting point. The building is completely ecological because it’s designed to be built and run with a minimal impact on the environment

“The circles that form the façade, terraces and roof are dimensioned to enable the pine trees to continue growing with undisturbed roots, trunks and crowns. This allows the building to be grafted into the landscape so that the edge of the forest’s beautiful dappled light and framed views are kept,” says Mattias Lind.

The National Property Board, which is running the project, aims for its facilities to be fully adapted from an access perspective.

“It’s guided us in our choice when looking for a solution that combines Naturum’s relationship to the castle and the countryside, but with demands on full accessibility and a maximum ecological profile,” says Åsa Hallén, buildings curator on White’s competition team.

Victoriahuset will have an area of 840 m2 with a restaurant, exhibition areas, auditorium and administration offices. Glass and locally quarried limestone dominate the elongated building with large interlocking rooms that will allow activities to develop in the Naturum in the future.

The Naturum at Läckö is the eighth Naturum designed by White. In 2010, apart from Victoriahuset, a Naturum at Kosterhavet in the county of Norra Bohuslän and a Naturum in Kristianstad’s water world will be ready for opening. All were contracts won by White as a result of design competitions.

“It’ll be great to see these unique buildings realised simultaneously. We’re always looking for a combination of a poetic relationship with the countryside and a rational view of how the building will work. This allows room for nature to express itself in a building that will be around for many years to come,” say Ulla Antonsson and Mattias Lind.