Elevated walkway and visitor centre added to 12th-century abbey ruins by Binario Architectes
Binario Architectes has used Corten steel, concrete and wood to create a series of new additions to the Villers Abbey in Belgium, including a visitor centre and an elevated pathway (+ slideshow).
The Belgian studio converted a former watermill to create the Abbey Visitor Centre in the town Villers-la-ville.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_20-852x1277.jpg)
Said to be the largest abbey ruins in Europe, Villers Abbey covers a 36-hectare-site.
So the architects added a pathway to link the visitor centre to all areas of the site, including the ruins, a garden and a lookout point.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_17-852x562.jpg)
Both the outdoor walkway and a new staircase inside the visitor centre feature a simple material palette of concrete, wood and pre-rusted steel, used in various combinations.
The materials are intended to create a strong visual link across the site, while also remaining sensitive to the historic structure.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_22-852x569.jpg)
"The range of new materials was chosen in order to strengthen the unity of architectural, landscape and scenographic interventions in the full site," said the architects.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_10-852x569.jpg)
"The limited and sober selection, setup in various ways, offers a strong expression: Corten steel, exposed aggregate concrete, board formed concrete, earth formed concrete, solid wood indoor and outdoor footbridges," they added.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_11-852x567.jpg)
The new pathway features a footbridge with a steel balustrade that connects the visitor centre to the hill.
The bridge leads to a pathway that carves its way up the hill. It features rusted steel floor panels with dates recording the history of the abbey.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_19-852x569.jpg)
The walkway takes visitors to a garden at the top of the hill. Here, a second footbridge lined with wooden boards crosses over a main road that split the site in two and leads down into the ruins.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_5-852x1277.jpg)
Inside the visitor centre, a staircase with a red steel handrail and wooden treads acts as a continuation of the route.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x1277.jpg)
The ground floor has a shop and reception area, framed with board-marked concrete panels, while the the first floor features a large model of the abbey and a media room.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x1277.jpg)
These materials are intended to complement the exposed brick walls and wooden roof beams of the former watermill.
New bay windows inside the watermill also feature a perforated aluminium screen that filters and reflects light.
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_axonometric-view_1_.gif)
![the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_pharmacie-garden-view_1_](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_pharmacie-garden-view_1_.gif)
![the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_watermill-view_1_](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_watermill-view_1_.gif)
![the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_ground-floor-plan_1_](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_ground-floor-plan_1_.gif)
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_first-floor-plan_1_.gif)
![the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_long-section_1_](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_long-section_1_.gif)
![Villers Abbey Visitor Center in Belgium by Binario Architectes](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/09/the-villers-abbey-visitor-center-binario-architectes-villers-la-ville-belgium_dezeen_cross-section_1_.gif)