The Bothy and Tùr at Cuningar Loop

Situated within Cuningar Loop Woodland Park The Bothy will be a gathering place bringing together local communities & visitors in a forest building that can be adapted to their needs. The Tùr is to be a viewing point allowing visitors to take in the expansive views over the park.

Date

2022

Client

Clyde Gateway

Value

£2.3m

The Cuningar Loop Forestry Park is a transformational green space project at the heart of the Clyde Gateway providing approximately 37 acres of unique urban woodland with river frontage and activity spaces forming the largest urban park in South Lanarkshire. It enhances and develops the visitor experience and encourage greater use of the park in the form of The Bothy & Tùr.

The Bothy provides a permanent base for groups and activities throughout the park and do so in a way which encourages a wider range of user groups and engagement with local communities. The Tùr – or tower – is to be a viewing point allowing visitors to take in the expansive views over the park.

Sensitivity to the natural environment is a key factor in the design of The Bothy and Tùr. The aim is to work with the existing landscape as much as possible with a ‘light touch’. Existing infrastructure and paths were utilised where possible and the landscape and trees were treated sympathetically. The setting at Cuningar Loop offers unique views across the River Clyde to the city of Glasgow. The Bothy and Tùr took advantage of this by framing key views and opening up into the landscape.

The design was developed with the qualities of the traditional Scottish Bothy at the forefront. The compact linear plan derives from the ‘but and ben’ arrangement of traditional bothies with two multifunctional community rooms on either side of a central entrance.

The Bothy’s relationship to the park, river and city beyond is of great importance. The large windows frame views to the surroundings and the ‘barn’ doors bring the spaces into the landscape allowing activity to spill out, creating a dynamic environment that can be used in all seasons.

The Bothy is set within a new community garden space and allotments. The addition of a small story telling hut at the opposing edge of the garden provides a further way to use the site and connect users to the garden, park and river.

Working with the existing trees and topography of the site the walkway and Tùr creates a memorable and changing journey through the park which is accessible to all. The Tùr has been sited at one of the highest points of the park allowing it to act as a marker, drawing the public into the park and encouraging exploration. Its high position above the treeline gives great views around the park and to the city skyline beyond.

A ramped walkway leading through the trees takes visitors on the journey to The Tùr. The walkway has been designed to be fully accessible with regular landing platforms giving park users the opportunity to climb above the tree canopy.

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The Challenge

Situated within a popular woodland park setting on the edge of the River Clyde we were challenged to provide a permanent base for groups and activities throughout the park and do so in a way which encourages a wider range of user groups and engagement with local communities.

The Solution

The Bothy will provide a flexible community space, enhancing the facilities that are already available and encouraging a longer stay for visitors. The Tùr and ramped walkway will provide a new and exciting way to explore the existing park facilities and act as a marker in the landscape.

The Outcome

The Bothy and Tùr will provide users of the park with a multifunctional facility that relates sensitively to its surrounding landscape and takes advantage of its unique setting on the banks of the river.