The Savill Building

The Savill Building is a visitor centre for the Savill Garden, which forms part of Windsor Great Park. Its main feature is a timber gridshell roof formed from oak and larch trees that once grew in the park. The undulating roof is held clear of the ground by a tubular steel perimeter beam, which in turn is held aloft by raked steel columns, which are particularly dramatic on the park side. Approaching from the car park, on the east side of the building, the roof appears to hover just above an earth berm, which contains all the toilets, kitchens and other ancilliary accommodation. One enters at the centre of this elevation, where two freeform pods greet the visitor: one contains a small exhibition about the building, whilst the other serves as the ticket office. To the left is a shop and to the right is a café. The entrance to the garden is straight on. The building has significantly increased visitor numbers to the garden, and was shortlisted for the RIBA's Stirling Prize in 2007.