Beyond the Trees, Avondale has been awarded Tourism & Hospitality Project of the Year at the 2022 Irish Building & Design Awards.

Avondale House in Co. Wicklow, built in 1775, has recently opened ‘Beyond the Trees’; an entirely new visitor experience within its grounds, featuring the longest tree top walk in Ireland and a climbing tower with a 90m slide. van Dijk Architects worked with our client, Coillte, to design the orientation space, café, shop, exhibition space and a pavilion which tells the story of Coillte’s work in innovative forestry and climate action.

The building is nestled between existing Georgian-era outhouses and barn on a sloping site. We used this condition to create a route for patrons that conceals the key view of the walled garden from outside the building. You pass through the orientation space and into the café at first floor level, revealing a double height volume with expansive views that invites you down to enter the walled garden, pavilion and forest beyond.

Congratulations to the many people involved in delivering this landmark Tourism & Hospitality Project and a special well done to the van Dijk Architects’ team for this project led by Cathal Fearon.