The brief for The Rising project at Raby Castle included the introduction of a new building to act as an in formation hub and ticketing facility for visitors. The site for the new building was carefully chosen such that it could play the role of a visual reference point for visitors and its pleasing circular form sets it apart from all the wonderful listed structures that surround it. Finished in the same iconic Raby ochre render that graces the Coach House, the building commands its setting and to reinforce this we set it on a circular plinth of radiating reclaimed stone setts enclosed by drifts of perennials and grasses. We punctuated the planting with structure in the form of clipped Osmanthus delavayi domes and huge boulders salvaged from fields on the wider Raby estate. Our sweeping ramp of cobbles is an accessible alternative to the flights of sawn stone steps and gives visitors a graceful descending route from Duchess’ Walk to the Walled Garden and Coach House. We worked closely with local craftsmen, quarries and trades to give the setting to this striking new building a timeless elegance, using a collection of textures and finishes that are unmistakably Raby. Oak perches were created to our design by the estate foresters using storm blown oak from local woodland.