Duneland - Tentsmuir NNR Education Pavilion
Outdoor learning hub
Energy Use: Off - grid
Certification: n/a
Status: Completed June 2019
Location: Fife, Scotland
Overview
Designed for the school groups who regularly visit Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve (NNR) to learn about the dune system landscape and its flora and fauna, this building is open access to all visitors, all year. Designed as an outdoor classroom, the young visitors are encouraged to explore and learn ‘hands on’ – feeling the sand in their fingers, picking up feathers and watching insects. They collect objects to illustrate their journey and bring them back to discuss with their classmates. On still days you can often hear the seals calling from their colony on a nearby sandbank.
Publications & Awards
As Seen on TV
- BBC Autumnwatch
Publications and Exhibitions
- UNESCO City of Design Dundee (@designdundee) | Instagram profile
- Nature.Scot exhibition, part of the Year of Architecture, Building and Innovation, 2016
Awards
Inspiring Learning Spaces - Winner
Innovation in Delivering Sustainable Learning Spaces - Shortlisted
- Education Buildings Scotland' Awards 2019
This pavilion was commissioned to create a welcome to the NNR, a gathering and learning hub and as a shelter in poor weather. The roof shape is reminiscent of a bird wing in flight, the sail of a boat, the historic tents that gave Tentsmuir it’s name and the ever shifting dunes themselves. The site has been carefully chosen to minimise the impact of a build on the fragile landscape and habitat. It is designed to be constructed from local materials that are non-toxic, recyclable and/or reusable. It is also designed for deconstruction at the end of its life – leaving no trace.
It was opened in June 2019 by a piper leading the local school children into the building, followed by the local MP, Councillors, SNH staff and the local community.
More details
Team
Kirsty Maguire Architect team members: Kirsty Maguire, Elaine Pieczonka, Alice O’Donnell
Engineer: Structural Design Consultants
Main Contractor: Hatrick Bruce
Photography: David Barbour Primarily
