Since its acquisition by the Forestry Commission in 1956, visitors to the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, have only been able to enjoy the park’s verdant surroundings in the more traditional way: from the ground up. Now the newly opened STIHL Treetop Walkway, designed by Glenn Howells Architects and constructed in collaboration with engineers Buro Happold, allows attendees to take in the park’s 15,000 trees and picturesque green surroundings from a breathtaking bird's eye view.
The Friends of Westonbirt raised an impressive £1.9m to help make this striking project a reality. Their intention was to provide visitors with a better understanding of the Arboretum and its landscape. The 300m walkway, which starts at ground level, snakes up between the trees providing glorious views over the historic Downs. At points along its path the bridge ‘bulges’ out, creating four resting and observation points, along with a ‘crow's nest’ which wraps itself around a 36m tall black pine, offering another opportunity for travellers to enjoy the stunning vistas.
Working with advanced computational parametric methods, Glenn Howells Architects opted for materials, which would complement their surroundings. Each of the walkway's timber legs is distributed evenly throughout the full length of the structure. This allows for a continuous visual flow with each post located so as to not disturb the existing trees. The steel balustrade is strong yet light, minimising the overall volume and consequently reducing its visual impact on the surroundings.
‘Focusing on visitor needs and materiality, the walkway is designed to disappear as a sinuous silver ribbon that meanders between trees and canopies,' says Howells. 'The aim is that this new feature will greatly enhance visitor experience and help to ensure Westonbirt's popularity for many years to come.’
This walkway is in fact the second addition to National Arboretum by Glenn Howells Architects. The firm is also behind the Biffa Award Welcome Building, a timber-clad centre, which was completed in 2014 and acts as an entrance pavilion for the arboretum.
The walkway gives visitors the opportunity to take in the park’s some 15,000 trees and picturesque surroundings from a breathtaking bird’s eye view
The Friends of Westonbirt fundraised an impressive £1.9m to make this project happen. Their intention was to provide visitors with a better understanding of the Arboretum and its landscape.
The 300-metre walkway, which starts at ground level, snakes up between the trees, providing glorious views over the historic Downs
Working with advanced computational parametric methods on the overall shape, Glenn Howells Architects opted for materials, which would complement the verdant surroundings
INFORMATION
For more information visit Glenn Howells Architects’ website
Photography: Rob Parrish
-
Pedro y Juana's take on architecture: 'We want to level the playing field’Mexico City-based architects Padro y Juana bring their transdisciplinary, participatory approach to the Mexico pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025; find out more
-
The Sialia 45 cruiser is a welcome addition to the new generation of electric boatsPolish shipbuilder Sialia Yachts has launched the Sialia 45, a 14m all-electric cruiser for silent running
-
Tokyo design studio We+ transforms microalgae into coloursCould microalgae be the sustainable pigment of the future? A Japanese research project investigates
-
A new London house delights in robust brutalist detailing and diffused lightLondon's House in a Walled Garden by Henley Halebrown was designed to dovetail in its historic context
-
A Sussex beach house boldly reimagines its seaside typologyA bold and uncompromising Sussex beach house reconfigures the vernacular to maximise coastal views but maintain privacy
-
This 19th-century Hampstead house has a raw concrete staircase at its heartThis Hampstead house, designed by Pinzauer and titled Maresfield Gardens, is a London home blending new design and traditional details
-
An octogenarian’s north London home is bold with utilitarian authenticityWoodbury residence is a north London home by Of Architecture, inspired by 20th-century design and rooted in functionality
-
What is DeafSpace and how can it enhance architecture for everyone?DeafSpace learnings can help create profoundly sense-centric architecture; why shouldn't groundbreaking designs also be inclusive?
-
The dream of the flat-pack home continues with this elegant modular cabin design from KotoThe Niwa modular cabin series by UK-based Koto architects offers a range of elegant retreats, designed for easy installation and a variety of uses
-
Are Derwent London's new lounges the future of workspace?Property developer Derwent London’s new lounges – created for tenants of its offices – work harder to promote community and connection for their users
-
Showing off its gargoyles and curves, The Gradel Quadrangles opens in OxfordThe Gradel Quadrangles, designed by David Kohn Architects, brings a touch of playfulness to Oxford through a modern interpretation of historical architecture
