Calke Abbey
philosophy of repair
Nick Cox Architects have been working with the National Trust at Calke Abbey for many years. Over the past years, Calke Abbey has experienced a significant increase in visitor numbers which, amongst other matters, has generated the need for a new catering outlet to accommodate around 60-70 covers. As a new build element, the project was competitively tendered and awarded to Nick Cox Architects.
Caption applied to the asset...
Calke Abbey has a particular philosophy of repair – it is presented as a country house in decline – and so the integration of a new visitor facility with the existing building required a very considered approach and had to be well mannered in design terms.
The brief nominated a potential site from the master plan and encouraged exploration of particular alternatives. Working with the property staff, Historic England, the Local Authority, and the National Trust Architectural Panel several options were evaluated.
Visitor flow and experience were the key drivers in the chosen option, with the catering location visible from the visitor arrival route. The design screened the service areas while enabling key views to landscape and trees from within, linking the building to the wider historic context.
With sustainability in mind, the heating system is provided by the Calke Abbey biomass boiler aided by high levels of insulation, with carefully considered lighting and acoustics within the building to deliver a delightful visitor experience.
