Loch on Wood

Dundee School of Architecture, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland

Project idea

Loch on Wood is a proposal for a new visitor's centre which will replace an old an outdated one near Glasgow, Scotland. Some of the key points driven from the site analysis are:

The existing facilities provide access, but don’t provide any incentive for people to actually visit. They are quite run down and cannot cater to large groups of people as well as host events. There is also no clear circulation through the building with the stairs to the viewing space being completely hidden and out of the way. The main concept which the architecture does accomplish, is that it opens itself to the loch, exposing the interior to the view, which is something the new proposal should aim to keep.

The current site at large is well maintained and gorgeous. With this in mind, the RSPB has big plans for the circulation through the site as well as, well, the architecture. Keeping the entire RSPB site cohesive in its materiality will make sure visitors don’t forget the space once they leave.

Expanding on the current demographic, and more importantly creating new ones is key to the new design. Currently the site is primarily visited by locals who come to watch birds semi-frequently, and while having
dedicated locals is great, it doesn’t turn a profit. The patrons most likely to buy from the cafe and shop are tourists, families, and groups. Thus creating a piece of architecture that is both iconic and inviting for these
groups is key.

The wetland environment is already catered for the RSPB and the birds. The optimal solution lies in not disrupting what is already working in the site. Solar panels cannot be implemented as the reflection will be disruptive to birds flying overhead. A heat pump, whether air or ground sourced, may be an option to provide heating.

Catering to the wildlife is just as important in this site as catering to the people. The oak and birch trees helped determine the tone of timber to use for the project. Furthermore the proposal aims to make the architecture blend into the site from the birds’ perspective, in the process hiding people as well.

Prevailing winds come from the south-west but are partially blocked by tree cover. During peak times of the day, the sun will shine right through the southernmost facade, creating a dynamic space. The roof will be more exposed to the direct sunlight providing an excellent place to eat and hang out during the warmer months.

Project description

The site is situated 500m south-east of Lochwinnoch, Scotland. It is comprised of a beautiful loch, a small trail system, and many species of birds. The visitors centre is currently run by extremely dedicated RSPB volunteers. The current visitors centre is extremely outdated, providing minimal learning experience from the interior space, and lacking the frontage to bring in new customers. The main obstacle to the site was merging the priorities of people and birds, not allowing one to faulter in favour of the other.

Loch on Wood is the result of these factors, combing aspects from the brief, site analysis, and precedents. Loch on Wood will provide birds a sanctuary to roam in while allowing people to engage in some of the most beautiful wildlife Scotland has to offer.

Technical information

Rainwater capture was at the forefront of this proposal from the jump. Instead of being implemented last second as a cherry-on-top, it was a determinant of both the development, and the final product. Employing a blue/green roof hybrid system was the obvious choice as they can work seamlessly together to both retain and distribute grey water to the building, as well as materially blending in to the surroundings. According to the 525 square metre surface area of the blue/green roof, annually it
will accumulate a maximum of 673,050 litres of water (this can easily be reduced using the runoff strategy). The green part of the roof is implemented to blend and merge the architecture into the landscape, both tectonically, and materially. Furthermore, it acts as a filter for the
precipitation that is to be used in the grey-water system for the building. Accounting for the fact that the soil will absorb 75% of the incoming precipitation, the final accumulated amount for the use in greywater facilities such as the toilets and showers will come to 168,262 litres, not
accounting for the water lost due to evaporation, people, etc.

Bird proof fritted glass will be implemented on the exposed glazing (as much of it is already covered by the perforated corten steel facade). This will allow a seamless view of the loch while protecting the birds that call it home.

A compact trench ground source heat pump will be implemented to provide the buildings’ electricity. The pipes will be heavily insulated, so as to avoid any escaping heat. It will be placed underneath the entrance space boardwalk as the soil there is soft enough, and it will be out of the way. Ground source heat pumps are very efficient, given the fabric of the building it is implemented in is sealed correctly; for every unit of electricity that is generated by it, four units of heat will be generated. Because of this, a GSHP will be more efficient than a traditional heating setup by 400%, and also produce 70% less carbon dioxide than the traditional gas heated system.

Underfloor heating will provide the source of heat which fits within the same system as the ground source heat pump. This is an extremely sustainable and effective combination that has garnered a large reputation in the industry, thus leading to an increased ease of installation.