The architects of the new Centre were asked to design and build a state-of-the-art environmentally friendly building that would blend in with its surroundings. They have designed the Centre to represent the traditional low buildings of the area and have used many innovative and sustainable techniques.

For example:

• The buildings are arranged around a stand of existing native trees and only a minimum amount of tree felling was required. Unlike other building sites where soil can be brought in from other areas only soils from the Glencoe area have been used around the buildings so native plants will naturally regenerate on the site.

• The architects developed a system whereby all the elements of the building are biodegradable and/or removable, either for maintenance or replacement, and the nail-free construction allows parts of the building to be easily disassembled and re-used without damage.

• The buildings are made of timber entirely sourced from within Scotland. Floors are made of oak and sycamore; the external cladding is of heart of larch; and the windows and external doors are of laminated oak. Sheep's wool was used to seal the windows into the walls - an idea which came from Norway. Internal doors are of Scottish birch, elm and alder, and the Centre has birch-lined ceilings. None of the timber has been chemically treated, but hardwoods have been deliberately chosen that require little attention. Any finishes are in breathable and organic paint.

• The building is extremely energy efficient. Recycled insulation (chopped up newspaper - which has been fire- and bug-proofed with borax) has been used in all floors, walls and ceilings. The walls are 10 inches thick. Double glazing and extremely low levels of air infiltration with 'breathing wall' construction also combine to reduce the energy loads and benefit the climate indoors. The 'breathing' walls mean that moisture in the indoor air, which can be a problem in tightly sealed buildings, is slowly and constantly permeating outwards to the wall cavities and beyond.

• The heating system is fuelled by locally sourced woodchips from forest thinnings. It is carbon dioxide neutral, environmentally friendly, and even provides all the hot water for the next-door caravan site as well. Solar energy through the many windows also heats many parts of the Centre. Energy requirements are lower than in conventional buildings because of this.

• Most ventilation is natural via rooflights (which were specially designed to allow downflow of incoming air at the foot of the rooflight and exhaust of warmer air at the top) and windows. There is no air conditioning nor intake ducts (which can constitute a health risk due to build-ups of bacteria and mould).

• All the materials used have been vetted for the extent to which they are healthy to the site and to visitors. No concrete or PVC have been used on the site.

• The buildings are constructed on above-ground beams resting on pads, so that tree roots and natural groundwater travel unhindered across the site and also to allow ventilation beneath floors. The burn, which had been diverted around a previous building on the site has been re-instated to its original course through the courtyard, doubling as a visible rainwater drain.

• The whole site is served by a private water supply collected in a new reservoir and filtered before use. It is treated with ultraviolet light which kills bacteria without adding anything to the water. Water is also used sparingly - for example, the WCs are super-low flush.

• An enlarged and environmentally sensitive sewage works has been installed for the Visitor Centre and the neighbouring caravan site before discharge into the River Coe. It is an efficient system, using simple but state-of-the-art recycling technology to cope with seasonal variations in rainwater.

• This type of building demands a great amount of thought, consideration, skill and effort to build. Consider the pros and cons of an organisation or developer building a Visitor Centre like this.

• The Centre is actually quite a large building and was designed to sit well in both the wider landscape and in its woodland setting. Why not visit and decide for yourself?