Castles of Wales Part 1 Project 2025 Cole Evans University of Wales Trinity Saint David Swansea | UK This project proposes a museum dedicated to the heritage of Welsh castles, located directly across from Caerphilly Castle. Developed from a wider masterplan for the town, the design aims to strengthen Caerphilly’s cultural identity while supporting tourism and education. The museum is arranged as two wings and a tower, connected at basement and first floor levels, allowing pedestrian routes to pass through the site while guiding visitors along a carefully choreographed spatial journey.The experience begins in the basement, where dimly lit, immersive galleries evoke the atmosphere of castle dungeons. As the journey continues, visitors move into brighter, more reflective spaces, encountering themes ranging from power and defence to mythology, art, and the Welsh landscape.The material palette reinforces the museum’s narrative and sustainability goals. A glulam and CLT timber structure is exposed internally, offering warmth and tactility while referencing the timber interiors of medieval castles. Externally, the base is clad in stacked blue pennant stone, echoing defensive walls, while the upper floor features vertical oak cladding in a board and batten arrangement to create rhythm and contrast. Strategic openings throughout the building provide framed views of Caerphilly Castle, reinforcing the museum’s relationship with its historic context. Tutor(s)