Loch Lomond & The Trossach National Park Centre
Location: Balloch, Alexandria, Scotland
Client: Dallman Johnstone Architects, Loch Lomond Park Authority
Type: Public | Completed: 1996
Materials: Scottish homegrown timbers: Sycamore, Oak and Elm
Features: All handcrafted elements, Glasgow Institute of Architects Award, Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland Award
Role: Joinery Designer & Manufacturer
Our client’s brief:
For the main joinery, we chose Scottish homegrown timbers: Sycamore, Oak, and Elm each selected for its distinctive character. The sycamore panels of the reception desk were hand-worked to follow their natural form, supported by elm posts and custom hand-cut, lacquered metal brackets. Every surface was finished to highlight the grain and individuality of the timber.
The main countertop is crafted from solid two-inch “Cat’s Paw” cluster oak, featuring a striking detail where Loch Lomond beach pebbles have been set into a natural knothole in clear resin. Above, the reception counter is a sculpted slice of two-inch burr elm, again supported on metal brackets, celebrating the timber’s organic shape.
The shop shelving continues this language of construction, designed around the natural curves and forms of the wood.
