In 2012, following a competitive interview process, Hoskins Architects were appointed by the Salvation Army to design a visitor and training centre for young people with learning disabilities, at Strawberry Field in Liverpool, England.
The new 1360m² centre, designed as a ‘pavilion in the park’,
maximises views and physical connections to the mature woodland setting where
John Lennon played as a child. Visible from the historic gates the visitor
centre includes an exhibition space, glazed shop and a café that overlooks and
opens onto the garden. The training centre, with its greater requirement for
privacy, is located deeper into the site with a discrete entrance. Below a
lightweight upper floor sits a brick plinth that contains education facilities
with direct access to the training garden. A generous shared stair at the heart
of the building encourages interaction between building users, while a large
oversailing roof provides shelter.