The Yan visitors centre photograph Grizedale Forest Lake District

The Yan Visitors Centre Grizedale Forest Client Conlon Construction

This photograph of the new visitor centre named 'The Yan' at Grizedale Forest in The Lake District was a very attractive pine building in the heart of the forest and the photography was commissioned by Conlon Construction Rochdale to be used in their promotional literature.

It was designed by Edinburgh based Sutherland Hussey Architects who said “Our intention was to create a modern and innovative building that also sits well in the landscape. ‘The Yan’ has been constructed in a way that both celebrates the crucial role that timber has to play in light of the environmental challenges we face today, and also celebrates the beautiful location with the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It imbues the ethos of the Forestry Commission and will hopefully be an exemplar for other projects in the area.” All the wild flowers were out in abundance when I went to shoot the photography with a proliferation of deep red poppies. The problem I encountered on this photography session was that The Yan was at the top of a hill and would look totally distorted if I photographed it looking up. Another tool of the trade for the savvy architectural photographer, is the tall stepladders that open up into one long ladder. I propped the ladder against a strong tree and took the photograph from a high rung with the tree for support.

The building is constructed from a number of different timbers: The main structure of the building is comprised of home grown Douglas Fir, a timber with excellent structural properties. Oak has been used for the window frames, internal joinery and floor finishes, where its durability and beautiful grain can be exploited. Cedar has been used for the roof covering and the external cladding because of its ability to resist water penetration.

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