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WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL VISITOR CENTRE


the visitor centre was conceived as a series of courtyards, entered via an unassuming gateway


1 main entrance 2 lobby 3 shop 4 refectory 5 kitchen 6 hospitality 7 terrace


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a royal opening on 11 November 1993. (The financial failure of the original contractor caused a significant delay.) The visitor centre was conceived as a series of courtyards, entered via an unassuming gateway, complete with curved steps and ramp, facing the west front of the cathedral (the point of entry and exit for visitors). The first courtyard is flanked by the former coach house, extensively repaired to house the cathedral shop, with a storeroom above, and given a modest single-storey extension. The second courtyard contains the largest component in the scheme – the refectory, a lightweight pavilion with a north-facing glazed facade addressing the garden space enclosed by the ancient perimeter wall. Single-storey masonry structures,


containing respectively toilets and kitchens, frame the refectory to the east and west. The refectory itself is a refreshingly straightforward and unfussy modern building. The roof is supported on slender steel columns, with tie rods to stop spread. Its three gabled sections are covered in lead, echoing the huge expanse of lead on the cathedral’s roof, and overhang to give external shelter. In the summer, the glazed wall, with generous


022 ArchitecturePLB / 1971–2011 / Buildings ground-floor plan


7m


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SYMONDS STREET


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