April 12 2019

Strathnaver Museum, a volunteer-run collection of local history bin Sutherland, is to expand its operations through creation of a new heritage hub catering for North Coast 500 tourists.

Housed within a B-listed former ecclesiastical building the museum will renovate the current building and construct a satellite annex to provide room for a temporary gallery space suitable for use as workshop and seminar space when required.

This would encourage walking through the rural landscape from the car park and newly acquired café/tourist information centre to the main museum and a ‘simple shed’ addition which would house agricultural artefacts.

In a statement the applicants wrote: “A monopitch form has been chosen so that the building can take advantage of the south facing aspect and appear to be built into the slope. It makes no attempt to replicate the museum building and, instead, complements it through its simple form.

“The entrance is recessed so that it is sheltered from the prevailing winds. Openings are minimal and a single large picture window is provided. The first bay of the building would provide temporary exhibition space which, at times, could be used by an artist or craftsman in residence or for crafting workshops.”

CH Architecture, supported by Oberlanders, have drafted a masterplan for the museum campus which seeks to improve both functionality and the visitor experience.

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