Marshland Discovery Zone
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Sue Barr (website) Download Original
Visitor centre constructed from recycled shipping containers in the Rainham Marshes
The visitor centre consists of a group of three buildings constructed from freight containers, which are set on piles above the marsh and accessed by bridges.
One building contains a public outlook room for exhibition display, family workshops and informal education. Accessed from a separate bridge a grouping of two buildings provides a classroom space a composing toilet and services.
The industrial shipping containers used for the main building shells are formed from weathered steel. Additional bespoke elements such as steel beam trims and doors were fabricated from corten steel to give a matching finish to that of the containers. The container alterations incorporate a fully vented cavity with an insulated timber lining.
Data
- Begun: Jul 2005
- Completed: Mar 2009
- Floor area: 83m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £600,000
- Procurement: JCT Intermediate Form of Contract
- Address: RSPB Rainham Marshes, New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1SZ, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Peter Beard_LANDROOM
- Project architect: Gregory Ross
- Client: RSPB
- Structural engineer: Jane Wernick Associates
- Services engineer: Mott MacDonald Group Ltd
- Quantity surveyor: Appleyard & Trew
- Planning supervisor: Appleyard & Trew
- Main contractor: Kind & Co
- Building regulations consultant: Carillion Specialist Services
Suppliers
- Specialist Steelwork: M & G Engineering
- Oyster shells: The Colchester Oyster Fishery
- Larch piles: L&G Forest Product
- Composting toilet multrum: Raita
- Container supply: Boxtainer Limited
