Warren Design

Giants Causeway Visitor Centre

National Trust Northern Ireland

2010-2012

A project with Event Communications

The Giants Causeway is a World Heritage Site and Northern Irelands biggest tourist attraction outside of Belfast city. Depending on who you believe, the intriguing hexagonal shaped basalt rocks were created by a mythical giant making a causeway over to Scotland or are the result of a cooling lava field hundreds of millions of years ago, eroded over time by wind and sea. Either way, it is a world famous phenomenon set in a stunning location on the North Antrim coast.

Daniel was project lead for the new exhibition within the building designed by Heneghan Peng Architects and worked on the project from pitch all the way through to delivery. He led the design development and project management on this landmark project. Wayfinding and outdoor interpretation was also included within the scope.

The concept for the interpretation was to tell the story of the Giants Causeway through three related themes: the scientific geographical story; local history and people stories; and the myth of the giant Finn McCool, his brutish adversary in Scotland and his resourceful wife. The layout of the exhibition is inspired by the headlands and bays of the coastline with the highly interactive exhibition aimed at families and international visitors. The exhibits tell the complex story of the stones creation with fun and humour laced throughout the exhibition. A bespoke way finding system was designed for the various trails along the surrounding cliff top paths along with cast bronze outdoor interpretation points.