Margam Park Discovery Centre
The State of the Art Discovery Centre at Margam Park is named as the Local Authority 'Building of the Year' in Wales, 2009.
Top architectural experts from the Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales (CLAW) assessed buildings across Wales before choosing the Discovery Centre at Margam Park.
Ali Thomas, accepting the award as Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said, 'I am delighted with this prestigious award that we have won for the second year running. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the council's team on their success as the award is in recognition of the building that has been produced in collaboration with the Welsh School of Architecture.
"The Margam Discovery Centre has opened up a whole new world for Neath Port Talbot. It has become a centre for heritage and conservation training, job creation and environmental understanding. It has also been an example of reducing the carbon footprint and attracting more visitors to the historic Margam Park."
The eco-friendly centre, with a bio-mass energy supply, rainwater harvesting and solar power was constructed in a unique style, using sustainable materials, was also commended for its sustainability.
NPT's Ali Thomas(L) and Gareth Nutt accept award from Jane Davidson AM
The exemplar building was mainly constructed offsite and brought to Margam as a series of completed pods which were slotted together on the pre-prepared site, and was built to have the minimum impact on the existing park landscape for the benefits of everyone.
The £5.6million project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Local Regeneration Fund, is a multi purpose complex with conference facilities, study rooms, a library and computer room, a restaurant and community facilities. On-site residential facilities can accommodate up to 120 people, providing them with opportunities to study and encompass the historic surroundings of the park.
Neath Port Talbot Council - 17 November 2009
Margam Country Park in the Afan Valley offers super landscapes, award-winning architecture and rich cultural past, holds events all year long. More.....
