Context

The Weald and Downland Living Museum near Chichester, West Sussex acquired £6 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for The Gateway Project. This was designed by ABIR Architects and included a new waterside café, shop and visitor centre to enhance the visitor experience to the 40 acre site which showcases rescued traditional rural buildings set in a beautiful landscape.

Challenge

The museum required external surfacing that would be sympathetic to the historic environment whilst also being hard-wearing and low maintenance.

Solution

Addagrip approved contractor True Grip Ltd was appointed by Pilbeam Construction to install a series of resin bound pathways and pedestrian areas using Terrabase Rustic and Addaset.

Terrabase Rustic was selected in an Oak blend for the existing hoggin pathways which called for a no-dig solution due to tree root protection requirements. Terrabase Rustic does not require a concrete or asphalt base so was the perfect solution to upgrade the pathways with minimal disruption. The 6-10mm aggregate blend provided a rustic looking surface which was porous and easy to maintain.

As part of the build for the new visitor centre, the client required a more contemporary surface for the entrance area in keeping with the modern design of the buildings. Addaset resin bound porous surfacing in a Lucerne Silver blend was selected to provide a decorative, hard-wearing, and low maintenance seamless surface.

Outcome

The resin bound pathways were completed in April 2017 ready for the opening of the new visitor centre in May.