The first of an exciting new generation of ?Gateway? buildings for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was opened at Dawyck, near Stobo in September 2008. The building replaces and expands their existing facilities to cater for ever-increasing visitor numbers and provides extensive accommodation for staff and maintenance equipment. This simple, elegant new visitor centre nestles comfortably at the base of the steep hillside and at the same time sits lightly in the mature woodland garden both complementing and contrasting with the unique collection of specimen trees and shrubs. The low-lying structure acts as a screen between the busy car park and the tranquil garden, allowing only glimpses of the arboretum through the building, expressing the gateway and heightening the visitors? sense of expectation. Building materials were carefully chosen to harmonise with their imposing backdrop. The dark timber boarding and light oak structural timbers are designed to act as a foil to the soft reflective qualities of the copper wall cladding. Fully glazed public areas and innovative detailing allows durable natural materials to flow seamlessly from interior to exterior, reinforcing a sense of one-ness with the surrounding landscape.