Visitor Center in English Preston by Adam Khan

The first thing visitors to the Brockholes Quarry nature reserve in Lancashire, England, will see as they exit the M6 motorway is the visitor center building floating on the lake's surface, which was officially opened in May this year at a cost of £6.2 million (£9 million including landscaping). The center, designed for nature lovers and weekend tourists, was created by London architect Adam Khan.
The clustered gable roofs resemble ancient cottages found on the surrounding shores from a distance. Despite its rural aesthetic, the interior of the building offers everything but ordinary cottage romance. The new structure is more a perfect example of sustainable architecture. Houses with steep gable roofs can float on the surface, supported by a 'concrete raft' with air cavities. A quartet of steel columns prevents the oak-clad cottages from being blown away by the wind. This allows the visitor center to flexibly respond to potential flooding in the area. In extreme cases, the entire building can rise up to three meters above the normal water level. However, floods throughout the year do not vary by more than 40 centimeters. The visitor center is connected to the surrounding nature not only through construction technologies but also through the choice of sustainable materials that are environmentally friendly. Stumps, which are commonly burned as waste, form the flooring, the wastewater pipes are made of copper, and the thermal insulation is made from old newspaper. In addition to standard facilities such as an information corner, café, and gift shop, the floating center also includes spaces for educational activities and conferences.

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