Arbroath Building, Scotland, Photos, Architect, Angus Architecture, Images, Scottish Design

Arbroath Abbey Building

Visitor Centre, Angus, East Scotland, UK – design by Simpson & Brown Architects

page updated 10 Sep 2016

Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre

Visitor Centre building

Design: Simpson & Brown Architects

pmage from Simpson & Brown Architects 2005

Arbroath Abbey Visitor centre interior photos:

photos from Cowco 2005

Simpson & Brown won a design competition for the Arbroath Abbey Visitor Reception Building in 1999. The scheme included a new building with visitor facilities, a retail area, audio-visual exhibition space and viewing gallery, together with external landscaping and new interpretation throughout the Abbey site.

In response to the challenging and sensitive site, the new building form is a layered ‘soft’ horizontal building, contrasting with the high vertical mass of the Abbey. To achieve this, the building steps back in three volumes, slowly rising up, each space within gaining height and light until it finally cantilevers over the rear graveyard wall, giving views of the Abbey behind. This view of the Abbey grounds is key to the design and helps visitors to understand the layout of the Abbey buildings before they set out to explore them. The road leading to the Abbey was closed and the entrance area was pedestrianised.
source: Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre

building photos from Cowco 2005