Design Commission for Wales

• Location: Swansea
• Date Completed: 2002
• Client: The Trustees of the Environment Centre Ltd
• Architect/designer:Air Architecture (Robin Campbell)
• Other consultants: W.S. Atkins (Engineer),E.R. Brown and Partners (QS)
• Contractors: T.P. Bennett and Sons
• Planning authority: City and County of Swansea
• Funding body: Charities Lottery: Building and Arts Lottery: Art Elements
• Contract value: £103,735 (£1,297 sq. m.)
• Project type:Education Centre Conversion and Extension
• Full address: The Environment Centre, Pier Street Swansea SA1 1RY
• Site and context: Site of original Swansea telephone exchange within a conservation area of old dock buildings
• Site area/ Density: 416 sq m

Images

Introduction

The Swansea Environmental Resource Centre is a sustainable demonstration building, open to the public. It is funded by the Charities Lottery and has also secured collaborative arts funding from the Arts Lottery. Half of the new centre is within the original Environment Centre (housed in the first Telephone Exchange constructed in 1903) whilst the remainder comprises a new contemporary extension.

The site is located within a Conservation Area in what was a dense dockland area of shipping offices, warehouses, pubs, hotels and housing.

The building was shortlisted for the Architect's Journal Small Project Award, received mention in the 2001 Civic Trust Awards, and was used as an example of innovative design by the Welsh Assembly Government in TAN 12: Design.

Design Process

The design process began with a series of design options drawn up in discussion with the centre manager and trustees and monitored by local planners. The most important issue for discussion during this initial stage was access and the relationship between the existing building and the proposed extension. Coupled to this was the importance of sustainability; reflecting the buildings role as a forum for demonstrating and promoting sustainable building techniques, renewable energy and recycling.

Several initial design proposals, particularly the use of large areas of glass, were removed at the first costing stage and replaced with more simple cladding techniques.

The extension is built on the Western side of the existing centre and as part of the design process a new East/West axis was established through the middle of the building, between the entrance and the existing reception area. Access to the first floor library, meeting room and turf-roofed deck is via a spiral staircase; whilst the ground floor comprises the entrance/reception, cafe, internet access area and information centre.

The building structure is timber-framed, whilst the roof is covered by an area of turf. The principal front wall was re-built using stone from the existing perimeter walls. The second phase of development included sculpture and glass works created from sustainable sources by sculptor Roger Moss and glass artist David Pearl. The external signage was created by Brenda Oaks.

Sustainability Credentials

The Swansea Environmental Resource Centre has a range of sustainability credentials:

All timber was either FSC certified of taken from sustainable local sources.

Insulation was recycled newsprint for the walls and cork below the turf roofs.

The building is naturally ventilated, hot air is expelled via a solar ventilator, below which are 8 built in solar powered extractor fans.

The photovoltaic cells power a battery and computer which constantly monitors temperatures.

A series of solar water heating panels on the south-facing roof of the main building assist with heating water.

The building has a water-based underfloor heating system.

The west-facing double glazing was sand blasted in critical areas to limit solar heat gain.

All interior paint is solvent, VOC and Ethylene Glycos (a toxic added to some paint products) free.

The following recycling techniques were used:

Door mats were recycled from lorry tyres.

The reception desk incorporates recycled aluminium and glass.

The door fittings were cast using recycled aluminium.

The café furniture was fabricated from cable drums.

The circular windows were fabricated from oak thinnings.

Evaluation

The scheme has been selected because:

• The Resource Centre has successfully brought together traditional local craft skills and new technology to create a sustainable building that has become a hub of environmental activity in Swansea.
• A successful integration of the original building and the contemporary extension has been achieved, creating an innovative and thought-provoking building.