Lochside Visitors HUb

As part of a comprehensive feasibility study, LBA supported the client and developed a masterplan vision exploring opportunities including considering how the existing café could be re-imagined to suit present day needs and provide a more future-proofed facility. Our approach was led by the landscape and environment of the site, which in turn will create a unique place to inspire people to visit, support sustainable tourism which benefits local people and is also consistent with the Scottish Government’s net-zero and nature commitments.

Architecturally, we believed the existing café could offer so much more, both in terms of becoming a destination that tourists and visitors will love and remember but also to improve the café’s relationship with the loch. To do this we created a proposal that is sustainable, attractive and site-specific whilst ensuring the landscape and environment is protected, enhanced and celebrated. The café space boasts a roof form with projecting canopies that play an important functional role in sheltering visitors from the elements and encouraging engagement with the loch whilst creating a distinct and dynamic appearance. The building has also been designed to deliver exemplary sustainability credentials, utilising green technologies to deliver power, water, heating and insulation whilst ensuring these are practical, sensible and cost effective to run in such an exposed and isolated location.