Farnham Park lies adjacent to Farnham Castle on the northern fringe of the town of Farnham in Surrey. In order to promote the unique historic landscape and ecological environment of Farnham Park, Waverley Borough Council required a covered outdoor interpretation and information centre which could provide the main focus for visitors to the park. These improvements were centred on the redevelopment of the existing park lodge to provide a ranger’s office, store and covered outdoor interpretation area.
The building needed to be constructed of robust and low maintenance materials in addition to being natural and sustainable. The original park lodge was a brick-built bungalow constructed in the 1960s. The building was totally refurbished including new windows, cedar cladding and a new wood-fired heating system combined with a series of roof-mounted solar panels. A new canopy was constructed using three larch gulam beams supporting a Sedem roof to provide shelter for the interpretation area outside.