Retail design and branding agency M Worldwide and shopfitting and fit out contractor Datum Contracts have been jointly appointed by Cadw — the Welsh Government’s Historic Environment service — to develop a new approach to retail and visitor centre site design at Cadw’s historic visitor attractions. This will be initially trialled at Conwy Castle, North Wales. M Worldwide will be creating a set of high level design principles that can be applied at Cadw’s many and varied historic properties across Wales, and Datum Contracts will fit out and implement those designs.

Photo: © Crown copyright (2011) Visit Wales
The pilot site is at the visitors’ centre at World Heritage Site Conwy Castle. A refurbished retail and visitor services space of 150 sq m (15,000 sq ft) will be officially unveiled in time for Easter 2012.

M Worldwide and Datum Contracts will develop a design language which encompasses communications, visitor environment elements, lighting and a palette of colours and materials to reflect and portray Cadw’s ethos, as well as the rich and diverse history of Wales. Particular attention will be given to sourcing and specifying local materials with a strong Welsh provenance.

Elements from the overall design language will be used at each location to create a sympathetic and appropriate approach to new visitor centre interiors. This, together with the ability to change the proportions and scale of the various retail merchandise units, will allow each site to be designed to complement the historic period and character of each retail outlet, whether it is in an abbey, castle or more contemporary setting.