Skip navigation

Architects new book examines the importance of tourist visitor centres

17th January 2018

Northumbria University’s Head of Architecture has published a new book highlighting the importance and significance of visitor centres at major tourist destinations.

Professor Ruth Conroy Dalton has critically analysed 20 award-winning contemporary visitor centres across the UK, including those at The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland; Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland; Stonehenge in Wiltshire and the newly-opened The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre in Northumberland.

Her book, Designing for Heritage: Contemporary Visitor Centres, focuses on the most architecturally significant examples of visitor centres to be designed and built throughout the UK in recent years.

Through a series of short essays and beautifully illustrated photographs and architectural drawings, the book examines the social role of visitor centres; their focus on visitors’ needs and how architects work to develop a relationship between the centre and its surrounding landscape.

As a Professor of Building Usability and Visualisation, Ruth is particularly interested in how architectural design can place the user at its heart. Her research specialises in the relationship between the spatial design of buildings and environments and their effect on how people understand and interact in those spaces.

Speaking about her inspiration behind the book, Professor Dalton explained: “With tourists expecting higher levels of service, information and retail opportunities, visitor centres have become a vital component in providing access to heritage sites, historic buildings, landscapes of natural beauty and monuments.

“As a consequence, numerous architecturally renowned centres have been designed and built in recent years.

“It is perhaps no surprise that many have been featured in architectural awards, as they not only offer a ‘jewel’ of a project to architects, being small in scale but high in profile, but the buildings must also respond sympathetically to a rich physical and cultural context.”

Designing for Heritage: Contemporary Visitor Centres is published by Lund Humphries and is available to purchase on Amazon. 

comments powered by Disqus
a sign in front of a crowd
+

Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Research at Northumbria
+

Research at Northumbria

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

NU World
+

Explore NU World

Find out what life here is all about. From studying to socialising, term time to downtime, we’ve got it covered.


Latest News and Features

academic Jennifer Aston pictured in a law library holding an open book
Launch of The Regeneration Shop in Chopwell. Sarah Cotton, Senior Programmes Manager at Chopwell Regeneration Group; Jennine Wilson, Lecturer in Fashion and Senior Technician at Northumbria University; Hal Convery, Shop Manager at The Regeneration Shop; Crystal Hicks, Executive Director of Chopwell Regeneration Group; Gayle Cantrell, Assistant Professor BA Fashion Communication at Northumbria University; Sophie Wetherell, Assistant Professor BA Fashion / MA Fashion Design at Northumbria University; Emma Jane Goldsmith Assistant Professor BA Fashion / MA Fashion Design at Northumbria University; Professor Anne Peirson-Smith, Head of Fashion at Northumbria University.
Mooting
A new toolkit has been developed to support rural communities with the development of renewable energy projects. Photo: Adobe Stock
From left to right: Natalie Winchester, Subject Lead Health and Social Care and Post-16 Raising Standard Leader at Bede Academy, Dr Julie Derbyshire – Director of Apprenticeships and Assistant Professor in Nursing at Northumbria University, Andrew Thelwell – Principal at Bede Academy, Professor Alison Machin, Head of Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University and pupils from Bede Academy.
British Military Uniform
the planet Saturn
an image depicting cyber security

Back to top