Bothwell’s new Visitor Centre is injecting new life into a set of historic buildings, and contributing to the rejuvenation of one of Tasmania’s most scenic historic towns.
The Visitor Centre is placed between two historic structures – a former school and the teacher’s residence, both entered on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
In designing the building, Loop Architecture undertook extensive documentation of the existing buildings and discovered that the former school building concealed scissor truss roof framing above more recent pine ceiling. This simple structural design was adapted for the new building, combining a modern composite insulated roof panel system with traditional bolted timber scissor trusses. The new addition employs gable roof forms, expressed timber framing, and cladding to emulate the widespread craft aesthetic of the area and compliment the detailed stonework of the buildings it flanks.
The result is a purpose built Visitor Centre for Bothwell that respects its past, ensures the ongoing use of two much-loved heritage buildings, and enhances facilities for the community and visitors to Bothwell.
Project Team
Charlie Ellis