Stonehenge Visitor centre, (United kingdom)
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Stonehenge Visitor centre (United kingdom)Does modern architecture suit all environments? What is the best way to approach building next to a world famous monument as iconic as Stonehenge, which today could be perceived as Land-Art but was actually built between 2,800 and 1,100 B.C.? The new building designed by architects firm Denton Corker Marshall offers a proud welcome to visitors coming to admire the megaliths. One million visitors are expected every year. |
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Architect: Angela Dapper and Dominic Davey - Denton corker Marshall
Although the visitor center is almost two kilometres from the circular enclosure of granite, the question of its integration was crucial: other, less important monolithic monuments border the World Heritage site around a construction-free plain where any new building would be very noticeable. Furthermore, the A344, a road passing near the stone circle was in fact removed in the sense of wilderness and timelessness of the site.
The building does not intend to compete with the monument. A slim, slightly veiled roof covers three pods housing the ticket office, a
Panels of VMZ Composite were perforated on the periphery of the roof to create a play of light similar to that produced by the sun through the leaves of trees. The building could be perceived as an artificial tree on a plain.
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