Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The visitor centre at Westonbirt Arboretum, managed by Forestry England, stands as a leading example of how the cladding industry can support sustainable architecture through thoughtful material selection and design. Clad in Western Red Cedar, the award-winning building demonstrates the aesthetic and environmental value of timber cladding when applied with sensitivity to landscape and purpose.
Designed by Glenn Howells Architects, the project highlights the role of timber cladding in creating structures that are visually striking yet environmentally responsible. Set within one of the world’s most important tree collections, the visitor centre was conceived as a gateway that would reflect the arboretum’s natural character while improving visitor flow and functionality.
Westonbirt Arboretum attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, yet its former visitor facilities were fragmented and inefficient. Parking arrangements were disorganised, essential amenities were spread across the site, and long queues often formed at a single ticket point. Perhaps most importantly, visitors lacked a clear starting point for their experience.
Commissioned in 2010 to develop a new masterplan, Glenn Howells Architects set out to address these challenges while ensuring the architecture complemented the surrounding woodland. The resulting visitor centre provides a cohesive arrival experience, bringing together ticketing, retail, catering, and orientation in one clearly defined hub.
From the earliest design stages, timber was central to the architectural concept. The building sits in a shallow valley and has been deliberately kept low in profile, allowing it to blend into the landscape rather than dominate it. Western Red Cedar cladding was selected to echo the colours and textures of the surrounding trees, reinforcing a strong visual connection to nature.
One of the project’s key design challenges was achieving a continuous curved form. This was resolved through the use of horizontal cedar strip cladding, which provides the flexibility needed to follow organic curves while maintaining durability and weather resistance. The natural properties of Western Red Cedar allowed the cladding to be installed without chemical treatment, supporting both sustainability and long-term performance.
The cladding was produced from UK-grown green cedar, which was allowed to air-dry naturally before being milled to the required profile. This low-energy approach reduced environmental impact while improving dimensional stability. Carefully detailed shadow gaps between the horizontal boards create depth and rhythm across the façade, while also allowing the timber to accommodate seasonal movement and moisture changes.
Beyond aesthetics, the cedar cladding plays a functional role by enabling the building envelope to “breathe,” contributing to the structure’s longevity and reducing maintenance requirements—key considerations for public buildings in natural settings.
The Westonbirt visitor centre has since been recognised with a Green Apple Award for Sustainability, underlining its success as a low-impact timber building. Developed in collaboration with industry partners including TRADA, the project has also been featured in educational materials and videos promoting responsible timber use and sustainable construction practices.
For the cladding industry, the building serves as a powerful case study, demonstrating how homegrown timber, innovative detailing, and sensitive design can deliver architecture that is both functional and environmentally aligned. More than a visitor facility, the Westonbirt Arboretum centre continues to set a benchmark for sustainable timber cladding in the UK.
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Tags: cladding industry news, eco-friendly building materials, Forestry England projects, sustainable timber cladding, timber cladding design, UK timber architecture, Western Red Cedar cladding
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