AM Interiors have recently completed the fitout for the new Visitors Centre at Jersey’s world famous Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The brief provided by Durrell was to take the existing admissions building and re-model it into a new gateway into the wildlife park.

The fully accessible Visitors Centre now provides a new admissions and membership facility, a café and outdoor terrace, expanded retail, a garden centre, flexible event and function/exhibition space and an outdoor multifunction market space. The back of a dramatic feature multi-coloured layered granite wall has been used to create an educational messaging wall introducing core conservation and sustainability messages through its design and integrated displays. These facilities can be used and enjoyed without entering the park, thus making a valuable contribution to the local community as well as being part of a leading island tourist destination.

As befitting of Durrell’s sustainable ethos the energy usage & sustainability of the building has been a key driver through all aspects of the scheme. This philosophy  informed the whole design and construction process right down to the selection and specification of materials and fixtures and fittings, many of which are made from waste or recycled materials.

This project was completed in 2011 and was a multi-award winner at the 2011 Jersey Design Awards