Roisin Heneghan’s winning design for a new £12m visitor centre at Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO world heritage site – has been unveiled following an international architectural competition.

The planned building will replace the current temporary structure – established after a fire at the centre five years ago – and is intended to merge into the natural contours of the landscape.

Secretary of state Peter Hain said: “ This project is one of the most important developments for Northern Ireland’s tourism industry in many years.”

The new visitor facilities, expected to offer interactive and multimedia experiences, will be owned by Giant’s Causeway Visitor Facilities, a subsidiary company of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

A separate international competition is underway to select a designer for the internal exhibition area. The full project team is due to be in place by December, with work scheduled to start in the new year. Details: www.detini.gov.uk