One of Oxford’s most-visited attractions has a new purpose-built visitor centre designed by a heritage and conservation architect.

The visitor centre at Christ Church is now home to a number of facilities for an estimated 400,000 visitors per year to enjoy.

Designed by architects Purcell, the ‘barn’ style building - which sits discretely in Christ Church Meadow - has a thatched-roof making it unique in the city.

ALSO READ: Holy Family church set to be demolished

It houses a ticketing office, shop, visitor facilities, and a multi-purpose seminar space within - and as an extension to - an historic barn.

The thatched roof came with a number of design challenges which were tackled during the design and planning process.

Other challenges included the location within the historic park and gardens of Christ Church Meadow; the proximity of the Grade I listed buildings of Christ Church; civil war archaeology below ground; and its location adjacent to the Oxford flood plain.

Jane Kennedy, Purcell partner and foundation architect to Christ Church, said: “I am delighted that we have provided the Foundation with beautiful and useful new buildings and at the same time will be able to restore and reopen the medieval Chapter House.”

Purcell designed the building to offer a better visitor and staff experience through more user-friendly access routes, improved ticketing systems, and purpose-built spaces to support an expanding education experience.

ALSO READ: Boris Johnson posts video on social media thanking NHS for saving his life

As the second most visited ticketed attraction in Oxfordshire, after Blenheim Palace, a new ticketing arrangement within the building should reduce the queueing at peak season.

The additional building has enabled the existing Cathedral shop to be relocated from the Christ Church’s 13th Century Chapter House, allowing the historic room to be restored for use more in keeping with its original purpose.

The project has also delivered new yard facilities for the landscape team.

Purcell’s designs create a brand new agricultural-style timber building situated within the Grade I listed landscape, with modern staff amenities, increased storage, and welfare facilities for the team.

Staff are responsible for looking after the green areas of Christ Church which are included in the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

ALSO READ: Charity appeal for old laptops in Oxfordshire

James Lawrie, Christ Church’s Treasurer, said: “Christ Church is delighted with the new Visitor Centre, the restored Thatched Barn and the upgraded compound. We have very much enjoyed working with Purcell on creating this sympathetic complement to our historic Meadow.”

Christ Church has many notable buildings including Tom Tower designed by Christopher Wren and the Great Hall which inspired the dining hall in the Harry Potter films.

Notable alumni of Christ Church include 13 British Prime Ministers, 17 Archbishops, Lewis Carroll, WH Auden, Jan Morris, John Locke, and Robert Hooke.

The historic site is currently closed due to the coronavirus.