Ruth Adu-Dwumaa

BA (Hons) Architecture

‘The masterplan is motivated by the theme of tourism in hiking. The aims of the scheme include enhancing the visitor’s experience to the lake district, making hiking and outdoor activities inclusive to everyone, whilst also making tourism an asset to the area and not an inconvenience through the promotion of sustainable tourism. To achieve these aims, the learning centre will have a number of functions. It will promote the ‘fix the fells’ scheme run by the European union, where volunteers help fix the trails that have eroded due to tourism. There will be a hostel alongside the learning centre, so visitors have the option for an overnight stay where guests can mingle and socialise with one another, sharing their experiences of the lake district. Finally, it will provide info on a variety of hikes in ranging difficulty levels, so every visitor has something that they can explore.’

A Full view of the Adventurers' Learning Centre. A large green roof ascends 9 meters above ground to reveal a beautiful view of the Fell Foot landscape and the distant mountains.  

The hostel at night. The external space is illuminated by the life going on within the walls.

The final model of the Learning centre exhibiting the charred timber exterior of the hostel contrasting to the timber clad and stone façade of the learning centre.

Hostel guests gather around the fire pit on a calm evening. With the addition of firepits for warmth, the courtyard can be used comfortably at night throughout the year.

A view from within the dark corridor, lit up by the courtyard fires producing flickers of light patterns, adding impermanent ornament to the walls, floors, and ceiling.

The West elevation highlights the spread of the hostel across the site, consuming the lake view so that hostel guests have a delightful view from their bedroom windows as well as from the roof deck