The centre focuses on environmental education and interpretation of Loch Lomond and encourages people to stop in Balmaha.

The client’s brief called for a barrier free entrance, reception and exhibition area with audio visual room adjacent, sales area, toilets and accommodation for staff including the water-based Park Rangers. MAST responded with a building which reflects the vernacular style, sitting neatly on the sloping bank, giving the impression externally of being a traditional farm steading, set within ‘dry stane dykes’.

The construction comprises traditional wet dash harling on brickwork, with second hand Ballachulish slates. Windows and screens are double glazed, stained externally with sliding hardwood shutters.

Internally, the reception counter and shop fittings were designed and constructed by an artist/craftsman using indigenous timbers creatively to add a source of richness.