Design Commission for Wales

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Introduction

The project developed from the decision by Monmouthshire County Council to close Monnow Court, an existing Care Home opened in the mid 1960's, providing long-term care for people under the age of 65 with severe physical disabilities. Since 1996 and local government reorganisation, there had been concern for the viability of the facility, resulting in the planned closure of the establishment within two years, providing suitable reprovision could be in place for the existing residents. Of the 14 permanent residents, it was determined 6 would need specific reprovision, with others placed in appropriate existing accommodation. To this end, the site, adjacent to Monnow Court (situated within a Grade II Listed walled garden, originally the kitchen garden of the adjacent listed Drybridge House) was allocated for development.

The 6 residents would require twenty-four hour care, accommodation that could respond to the changing physical needs of each individual, and an environment that promoted independence but which recognised the specific requirements for people who had experienced a lengthy period of institutional care.

Design Process

Drybridge Gardens is a unique development of independent living accommodation developed by Charter Housing Association in partnership with Monmouth County Council and part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. Monmouthshire County Council sought tenders from the Registered Social Landlords zoned for the area to select a partner to undertake this extremely sensitive re provision project. Socially, the scheme required sensitivity to the special needs of the residents, moving from a communal to a more independent, but supported, environment. From the outset, Charter Housing worked closely with the residents, their families, their carers and MCC Social Services Department to progress the scheme. Environmentally, the scheme required sensitivity to the special nature of the historical environment, and involved close liaison with MCC planning officers and CADW.

The client group chose to dispense with standard 'pattern book' housing and selected Ainsley Gommon Architects to develop a bespoke design which responded more fully to a very demanding brief. Independent living is provided by six single-storey homes, in three semi-detached blocks, grouped around an open communal area for meeting people and relaxing. The buildings are orientated to allow all the homes to have some direct sunlight during the day. The relationships of the buildings with the existing walled garden provide for more intimate external areas for the residents, giving each their own private space.

Planning issues related mainly to the Grade II listed walled garden. A breach had to be made to allow access to the site which required listed building consent, a breach limited to 3.5m in width so as not to impact too greatly on the wall. With the agreement of the Local Planning Authority, the architects were able to provide a low structure with horizontal emphasis i.e. a butterfly roof behind parapets. This design approach was in contrast to the usual planning guidelines of pitched roofs clad in Welsh Slate.

Visually, the elevational treatment takes its theme from the existing garden wall, with the low-pitched 'butterfly' roofs concealed behind parapets to maintain the horizontal lines of the garden wall and ensure the new development does not dominate the Listed Grade II structure. The external materials are natural stone, and a single coat polymer render. The colour of the stone and render complement that of the garden wall and surrounding buildings.

The brief required the building to have a high level of sustainability, and the scheme therefore utilises a timber frame cassette system, which is insulated with Warmcell insulation, recycled from newspaper, giving U values of 0.15w/m2k through the walls and 0.13w/m2k through the roof. A system is used for recycling rainwater, and solar panels provide 30% of the residents' hot water requirements.

The design also allows residents access to all areas with level thresholds and automated doors, which can be activated by a sensor attached to each resident's wheelchair. This gives residents a degree of independence they have not experienced before, although still with the back-up of Carers being on call 24 hours a day.

The central courtyard around which the development is based provides an intimate and protected landscaped 'external room' in which the residents can relax. A loggia around three sides of the courtyard allows residents to move freely between bungalows protected from the weather and the heavily planted raised beds soften the buildings and edges and provide sensory delight for the residents. There is also space within these raised beds to allow the residents to tend their own plants should they so wish. The areas between the new building and the existing garden wall are laid to lawn with specimen trees positioned at strategic points. There will be on-going development of these areas to provide formal landscaped gardens to bring together and further enhance both the new and old structures.

All the homes have their own kitchens equipped with adjustable fittings and work tops and the bathrooms are fitted with state-of-the-art Apollo Baths and adjustable basins.

During the planning process the architects were informed by the Environment Agency that the site was located on a flood plain, and the buildings therefore had to be raised on a landscaped plinth to a height of 1.100 metres.

During the design process regular meetings took place between the design team and the residents, and presentations were also made to family members.

The contractor was brought in at an early stage due to the tight programme to provide value engineering and construction expertise, during the detailed design stage.

Evaluation

Drybridge Gardens responds in detail to the needs of the end users. The scheme far exceeds typical development quality requirements and pattern-book design, providing a special needs development with 'bespoke' design.

Drybridge Gardens has attempted to marry a modern structure to an historic structure without either dominating the other, and both acting sympathetically with one another.

Scheme strengths include:

• An effective Partnership between two bodies, Charter Housing Association and Monmouth County Council, to provide a much-needed facility.
• The re-use of a disused and neglected historic structure.
• The use of materials which provide a low environmental impact, which takes into account life-cycle costs, recycling, embedded energy, transportation and environmental impact. Heat loss values far exceed current guidelines.
• The use of motorised and automatic doors, which provide ease of use for the residents.
• The use of solar power to provide a percentage of hot water requirements and the provision of a greenwater harvesting system providing water to toilets and washing machines.
• The provision of a domestic environment going well beyond Life Time Home standards, providing residents with independence and both individual and communal living space.

Project Summary

• Location: Monmouth, Monmouthshire
• Date Completed: December, 2003
• Client: Charter Housing Association Ltd and Monmouthshire County Council Social Services Department
• Architect: Ainsley Gommon Architects
• Planning Authority: Monmouthshire County Council
• Funding Body: Part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government
• Contract Value: £937,215
• Project type: residential care home
• Full address: Drybridge Gardens, Drybridge House, Rockfield Road, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, NP25 5BR
• Location type: town
• Number of dwellings: 6
• Dwelling type: single-storey
• Site area/density: 4,612sqm or 0.46Ha
• Parking ratio: 2 spaces per unit
• Typical unit area: 74m2 gross internal floor area/unit
• Cost per unit: £129,700

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