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Education Reports

Archbishop McGrath School, Bridgend (Feb 09)

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Commercial Reports

St Athan Defence Training Academy (Feb 09)

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Reports Residential/housing

Dickie’s Boatyard, Bangor (Feb 09)

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Reports Residential/housing

Brithwen Rd, Waunarlwydd, Swansea (Feb 09)

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Reports Residential/housing

Ael Y Bryn, Bwlch (Feb 09)

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Case Studies Streets and Spaces

Castle Square – Caernarfon

Planning and Design Process

Concept

The town’s main square is part of a World Heritage Site and was previously dominated by clutter, traffic and guard rails restricting pedestrian movement. The design concept originated in the desire to open up clear views to the Caernarfon castle and other historic buildings around the square. The public realm was to be a simple foreground plane to the high quality built form. The architecturally valuable cluster of the Presbyterian Church, adjacent banks and war memorial were developed as a counterpoint to balance the castle’s dominance of the space and by the addition of a new fountain and stepped seating area, where previously there had been an unattractive wall.

Objective

A primary objective was to make the square more inviting and usable for pedestrians. The design therefore required particular consideration of traffic management relating to the whole town centre, along with specific issues relating to the square such as the operation of markets, special events, taxi ranks, tourism and visitor management. The scheme was deliberately simple in approach aiming to create an uncluttered setting for the attractive buildings surrounding the square and the castle.

Shared Surface

The concept for a clean, flexible space led to proposals for a shared surface where pedestrians and vehicles have equal rights to the space. This approach encourages low traffic speeds and cars entering the space move more slowly than on conventional streets, enabling traffic calming, which encourages a greater sense of safety for pedestrians who wander across the square or meet to chat in the middle of the square leaving vehicles to negotiate their way around them. The lower traffic speeds tend to personalise interactions between motorists and between vehicle users and pedestrians so that potential conflict is reduced or resolved amicably in the same way that pedestrians negotiate one another on foot in a busy street.

Materials

Existing civic sculptures were relocated in the new square and a simple palette of new lighting, signage and furniture were also included, further enhancing the quality of the public realm.

Sustainability Outcomes

Materials

The surfacing materials include locally sourced Welsh Slate and Granite all from within 30 miles of Caernarfon.

Categories
Case Studies Public / Cultural

The Small World Theatre

Planning and Design Process

Concept

Early in the design process it was decided that the architecture of the building should reflect the enthusiastic, creative, hands-on nature of the Small World Theatre. The physical shape and size of the building has developed simply and directly from the nature and extent of its function. Early design ideas drew heavily from the shape of a circus ‘Big Top’, which is still apparent. The building was conceived as a multi-purpose hall rising to 11m, with high levels of natural light and ventilation, permitting a retractable curtain drop, creating an indoor circular ‘mini marquee’ room within the large space, and with the ability for blackout at any time of day. 

Space

The building accommodates a variety of different uses: a studio space, a rehearsal area, activity rooms, meeting rooms, a general workshop, storage space, offices, a resource library, a green room, a meeting room with a kitchen, and an exhibition space. This is a significant achievement in a building which has a complete absence of ‘dead’ space such as corridors, or right angled corners. All of the available space of the site has been utilised and the ratio of useable to non-useable space is virtually 100%.

Flexibility

These spaces are adaptable for different user needs and are multi-functional and different groups are able to use different parts of the building without interfering with each other. The main area is surrounded by ancillary rooms of varying sizes. The high roller shutter door between the workshop and the main space can be used as a proscenium enabling the workshop to become a stage area and the main studio to be an auditorium.

Construction

The structural frame in its vertical plane consists of two rings of columns. The inner ring of 400mm Douglas Fir poles, form the vertical sides of six triangular trusses which transmit all roof and floor loadings to six points at ground level. The sloping inner members of these trusses (Douglas Fir) rise to 11m to a ring at the apex. Double sawn timber members form the hip beams of the upper roof. Double horizontal cross members form beams which project into the inner atrium and support the Oak edge beams to the galleries which encircle the inner studio space. As well as leaning together and being secured at their upper points, these triangular trusses are ‘tethered’ back to a row of outer slender steel columns, most of which are encased in the outer perimeter wall. The function of the outer columns, aside from stabilising the inner ring, is to support a circle of ply box beams at first floor level. The box beams support the outer ends of the first floor joists and also support the first floor timber wall and the roof above it. The box beams additionally support the inner edge of the lowest roof of very shallow pitch which covers the peripheral rooms on the ground floor.

Sustainability Outcomes

Heating and cooling

The building has a very high net-to-gross floor area ratio, reducing the need to maintain or to heat ‘dead’ spaces such as corridors or connecting lobbies. A space heating and cooling system uses an air source heat pump producing a ratio of up to 3.5 times heat output to power input.

Use of technology

Solar roof mounted panels assist water heating for domestic use. A rain water harvesting system recycles water to the building for toilet flush to WC’s with dual flush facility.

Recycled materials

A large percentage of the insulation is made of recycled materials such as newspaper, resulting in very low U values. Recycled slate was used for the roof; a decision made possible by the breakdown of the roof into small areas, reducing the need for precise matching of size and colour. It was also used in areas of flooring. Cardigan brick found on the demolition site was re-used.

Biodiversity

The building has a sedum roof covering to the lower areas which reduces flash flooding and encourages biodiversity in the townscape environment.

Local economy

The structural frame uses locally sourced timber rather than steel. All labour has come from the local community including additional labour from volunteers. 

Related links

Small World

Hess Kincaid Architects

 

Categories
Case Studies Public / Cultural

Chapter Arts Centre

Planning and Design Process

Public Space

The essential architectural move is the creation of a broad shaft of public space running right through the building between two entrances of equal priority, one opening off a new paved piazza to the south, the second to the car park on the north, by way of a new partially covered courtyard space with external seating. The effect is to make Chapter more open and welcoming and in the few months since reopening, Chapter has seen a more than doubling of both visitor numbers and turnover. This ‘broad shaft of public space’ is busy. Parents with prams, students with laptops, elderly people, small groups, residents of Canton, Cardiff and beyond; they’re all here.

Accessibility

You can enter Chapter through one end of the building and leave from the other.  At the south entrance the new two-tone tarmac piazza, its pattern inspired by Stockholm’s Sergels Torg, clears away a complicated, multi-level approach to the building through groves of shrubbery. Three new entrance doors replace one.  Above the south entrance, a large lightbox hosts a series of artists’ commissions and lights the first floor theatre foyer, carved from a multitude of small rooms and giving easy access into the refurbished studio theatre. From the car park, a convoluted back door route is replaced by a large glazed entrance into a planted courtyard which, in summer becomes an extension to the café area.

Sequential spaces

The public areas of Chapter now occupy a continuous series of interpenetrating spaces which wrap around the longest bar in Wales. The box office reception is no longer in a box, and is open and friendly. The school’s old tiled dadoes have been revealed. The gallery and shop spaces have been reconfigured, with better access from the foyer and new lighting. The cinema foyer opens through to the two cinemas. The 60 seat Cinema 2 has been fully refurbished, its colour scheme a homage to another Stockholm icon, Asplund’s 1923 Skandia Cinema.

Sustainability Outcomes

Insulation

Although there was limited scope for improving the sustainability of the existing fabric, given that the budget did not allow a comprehensive refurbishment, wherever fabric was repaired it was done so to a high standard of insulation. The new roof, new wall areas and new windows are highly insulated.

Energy usage

In areas where a full refurbishment took place, or where new build extensions were added, improvements to the building’s energy performance were well in excess of Building Regulations requirements. In particular, the building’s boilers were replaced with high efficiency condensing boilers, heating controls were carefully zoned for better efficiency and low energy lighting with intelligent controls are used.

Quotes
‘If there is a better municipal arts centre than Chapter anywhere in Europe, I would like to see it. I remember helping to splash on the walls and sand the floors back in 1970. The new Chapter looks stunning.’

Wales’ First Minister Rhodri Morgan, at the launch event in November 2009

Related links

Chapter
Ash Sakula Architects

 

 

Categories
Case Studies Public / Cultural

Aberystwyth Creative Units

Planning and Design Process
Wooded Context
Reluctant to dilute the wooded character of the site by superimposing a single campus-style block, the studio chose instead to set eight smaller buildings among the trees. These consist of simple timber frame sheds, split down their centre and pulled apart to provide light and ventilation and a shared entrance area.
Bespoke cladding
The studio developed a special cladding system for the buildings. As stainless steel is everlasting but expensive, the studio sourced material the thickness of a coke can. This makes it affordable, but it dents easily, providing neither rigidity nor insulation. These problems are overcome by crinkling it in a controlled manner before spraying a CFC-free insulation foam on the back of the crinkled surface. The panelling is affordable, rigid and well insulated; it accommodates details like eaves and windowsills and has a non-uniformity, which reflects the forest’s leaves and pieces of sky in its facets.
Sustainability OutcomesCommunityThe architects worked closely with both the university and the local artistic community to ensure that the design fully met the brief, therefore retaining that community in the area.

Local materials

In terms of construction, the sustainability response has been to use local timber and lightweight construction with high insulation in addition to providing natural light and ventilation.

Quotes

“We are delighted with the studios and Heatherwick’s design. The concept really has captured the imagination of arts organisations and artists in the area – we have formed a creative community here which will work closely with, and will add to the strength of, the growing creative cluster in Aberystwyth”.

Alan Hewson, Director of Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Related links
Heatherwick Studio

Categories
Case Studies Residential / Housing

Pennard House – Swansea

Planning and Design Process

Vision

The evolution of the design came through a thorough understanding of the ‘phenomenology of place’ and critically, the client’s individual lifestyle. The vision was to marry daily routines and social interaction with an architecture that allows freedom and versatility.

Planning process

The site is located on the Gower Peninsula, a sensitive location in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Prior to the appointment of Hyde + Hyde, an earlier application had been made for a large scale ‘Huf Haus’ style development. The reason for the failure of this application was that it was ‘out of keeping with local character’. The client was advised to seek architects experienced in high quality domestic work. After three pre-planning consultations and closer consultation with the local planning department, Hyde+ Hyde was awarded full planning within 8 weeks and without the application going to committee.

Orientation

Due to the impressive sunsets on the Gower, the client specifically requested a house that would address this. We responded with a form that through its plan, metaphorically embraces the sun with arms outstretched, opening westwards. The internal courtyard accommodates our client’s needs with regard to social interaction, while the bedroom wing acts as a sound barrier to the adjacent road. The house reveals a strong directional orientation towards the setting sun, celebrated through various cantilevers that dramatise the external form, whilst providing shelter from the elements. A simple timber clad platonic box, strategically positioned hints at a more radical composition within the private courtyard hidden from view. The lap pool reaches through the courtyard out into the landscape, banked by a monolithic wall which acts as a canvas for sunlit reflections off the water. The ground floor plan forms the ‘arms’ of the courtyard, developed for its flexibility and to provide a space of privacy and seclusion.

Traditional construction

The logic behind the construction is an expression of tectonic honesty. Hyde + Hyde researched the traditional regional construction methods of historic barn typologies at St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff. This inspired a post and beam language for the internal courtyard guest bedroom elevation, with a contemplative mono-pitch roof to the bedroom areas.

Materials

 Natural materials were used wherever possible including sawn faced slate, with a strong emphasis on horizontal coursing to reduce the scale of the building and accentuate a relationship with the horizon. Other materials include glass, timber, and standing seam Anthrazinc which plays to the analogy of traditional slate, as a ‘metaphorical skin’. Modern material technology is utilised in the Glulam Beams, allowing an extension to the conventional limitations of a timber beam.

Impact on landscape

The design’s composition of a cantilevered timber-clad box embraces the view, but also provides protection to the kitchen, dining and living areas, logically configured at the heart of ground floor plan. The low-sitting design minimises its impact on the landscape and from the approaching road and public realm the building is a modest simple style echoing that of the local barns. The house looks like a simple timber clad box from the road but suggests that there may be a different, more radical design approach behind the building within the private courtyard that cannot been seen.

Sustainability Outcomes

Temperature

Close consultation with an independent energy consultant ensured we could provide a highly insulated building envelope to reduce heat loss significantly, whilst also reducing any possibility of ‘cold bridging’. Low ceiling heights were incorporated in key living spaces to reinforce a sense of human scale, whilst efficiently reducing the amount of internal volume requiring heat.

Air tightness

Air tightness was another key factor that was monitored on site and through detailed specifications including 1:5 detail drawings.

Materials

The identification of sustainable materials was another key factor such as the locally sourced ‘Berwyn Slate’ and heat treated timber from managed sources.

Developing technologies

This new home integrates passive solutions with developing technologies such as ground source heat pumps and future planned rainwater harvesting. Externally, an Air-Source heat pump provides warm water for the pool whilst the lower garden provides discretely concealed beds to fulfil the client’s desire for a space to grow fruit and vegetables.

Quotes

“If you want to create a low-carbon contemporary home in an area of outstanding natural beauty, you need an architect who understands its surroundings and interprets the owners’ lifestyle to deliver a unique structure that will complement Gower and set a benchmark for generations. The Hyde’s attention to detail incorporated a model, photo-montage and visuals of every angle, which assisted planning officers and has proven invaluable to the build. We are now looking forward to many years in our new home”

Client testimonial

Related links

Hyde + Hyde

 

 

Categories
Case Studies Residential / Housing

Hayes Point – Vale of Glamorgan

Planning and Design Process

Renewal

The principal aims of the development were to secure the long term future of the Grade II* listed building and to upgrade the associated grounds, improving the buildings setting. The original brief was to provide, on behalf of Galliard Homes, new residential accommodation within the structure of the existing buildings, together with new accommodation in the east and west extensions of the woodlands block. An additional floor was created and set back from the south façade on the headlands. New additions to the courtland elements were constructed to provide balance and symmetry to the overall plan.

Sympathetic design

The additions do not copy or pastiche the existing design but utilise the same palette of materials, principally of steel windows set within a rendered façade with horizontal banding echoing the brick panels on the original building. The fundamental design approach to the redevelopment of the old hospital is that the final developed building closely follows the original 1930s concept of a symmetrical building set within a generous landscape.

Restoration

Key to the development was the repair of the listed buildings which had suffered as a result of general weathering and poor maintenance since becoming vacant. All the elevations were repaired and re-rendered to once again provide the crisp white finish synonymous with the hospital’s historical appearance. New materials on both the new and existing structures were of high quality to match the existing range of materials and all works were carried out in conjunction with conservation experts, the Vale of Glamorgan and Cadw.

 Design Manual

Given the challenging scale of the project in providing over 240 flats, the control of the repairs and the consistent approach to detailing uniquely employed a Design Manual prepared by the developer’s conservation architect Frank Woods, in liaison with the architects Atkins Walter Webster (AWW). This was agreed between all the parties, including the local planning authority, and was used as a day to day basis for making decisions, and imposing a strong discipline in maintaining a consistent approach to detail.

Accessibility

From the outset it was important to develop a scheme that would be accessible to all people with disabilities. This raised some matters related to the listed structure, and the change of use required the complete refurbishment and re-organisation of the internal layouts and spaces. The layout of the units is such that they have been grouped around smaller ‘cores,’ this has reduced the scale of the development and provided a sense of ownership for occupants. Within these cores all circulation routes are kept to a minimum so to utilise outward views from the apartments.

Legibility

A key feature of the movement strategy through the site was the retention of the existing ‘spine corridor’ this is a listed feature which runs directly though the centre of the development from north to south. This link allows the smaller cores to be accessible from this main route and provides a pedestrian route through the development. Movement through the site is assisted by the installation of coloured portals on key routes. These are designed, coloured and located in key areas to signify features within the spine corridor. They have been segregated into 3 types and colours to highlight information points, accessibility points and larger spaces and finally changes in routes. By the simple use of colour these spaces are more legible and accessible to the user.

Character

The overall design utilises a logical approach which allows for an efficient layout and maximises the positives of the site. Stairs and lifts have been inserted / located into the areas which do not benefit from the views over the site and have been grouped close to the apartment entrances to keep travel distances to a minimum. The sub-division of the building allows each segment to have its own character and feel. This is further aided by the existing buildings which differ in their layout, orientation, scale and mass. For example the ceiling height is greater in the headland block (former ward element) than in the more intimate woodlands block (former nurses’ accommodation). These existing features have been incorporated into the scheme and provide a distinct character throughout.

Innovation

Care and attention to detail was taken to provide an appropriate alternative to the original W 20 series steel window glazing sections – the obvious replacement with new W 20 profiles was not acceptable because of cold bridging. The developer, Galliard, sanctioned research with the window manufacturer Salisbury Glass, to have new dies made for aluminium profiles which exactly match internally and externally the W 20 profiles but which are deeper in section to accommodate the necessary thermal bridging.

Phasing

The scheme was constructed in a phased development which allowed for a handover of the completed elements when complete. The development followed a southerly path with the northern elements completed initially, and the headlands building overlooking the channel completed and occupied last.

Sustainability Outcomes

Thermal improvements

The current structure was built using a solid wall construction which was typical of the period. As a result of this method of construction and the site’s proximity to the Bristol Channel, the structure suffered severely from water damage and damp. Part of the refurbishment was to dramatically increase the thermal properties of the building by adding insulation and dry-lining to prevent water penetration in the living accommodation. On certain elements, insulated breathable render was also specified. In addition, all the existing concrete roofs were repaired and rebuilt with new insulation and weather protection. These simple additions reduced heating requirements and provided internal spaces which are efficient and comfortable to live in and offer a great improvement on the existing structure.

Windows

Linked with the thermal improvements was the need to find a replacement for the existing Crittal W20 steel windows. With over 350 windows in the scheme, a replacement was required that would improve the buildings’ thermal properties and be low maintenance and durable enough to cope with the external conditions so as to have a long life span. The new window system developed provided windows with increased thermal properties as well as satisfying the appearance criteria set by Vale of Glamorgan and Cadw, resulting in profiles which matched the original frames.

Remediation

Decommissioning and removal of the existing clinical incinerator and associated outbuildings on site was also required. At peak use and still with licence to run for a further 17 years, the incinerator was burning some 985 tonnes of clinical waste per year including human tissue and low grade radioactive waste from the diagnostic radiology department. Aside from the visual benefits of removing this facility there was the very significant environmental improvement delivered including the remediation of contaminated ground, improved local air quality, health and amenity benefits for local residents and the cleansing of the surrounding natural coastal habitat.

Waste

Originally there was no facility to treat foul sewage before discharge into the Bristol Channel. A new system to treat outgoing waste was installed with a localised sewage treatment plant on site cleansing the waste before its discharge into the existing outfall. The system employs a sampling facility to ensure that the high levels of treatment are retained.

Related links
Atkins Walter Webster

 

Categories
Case Studies Residential / Housing

Ty Pren – Powys

Planning and Design Process

Design development

Two years or research and design development was undertaken by the architects researching and developing the design through site visits, models and prototypes. This period was also used to procure local materials and to develop and adapt a Welsh vernacular.

Welsh culture

The architects felt that the real strength of Welsh culture was found in simple plain chapels and vernacular buildings embedded in the countryside, gradually added to and elaborated. They were keen to take reference from these, whilst avoiding simply reproducing an explicit version of the historic vernacular, an approach that would devalue the original. The intention was to reinterpret through familiar forms and ideas coupled with a holistic approach to environmental sustainability.

Landscape context

The site itself inspired the ‘long house’ design, and using contemporary construction techniques a thoroughly modern and high performance building, which responds directly to the landscape was delivered. The design was environmentally driven throughout and the passive solar design strategy uses every natural energy source available, supplementing the active features, such as the log boiler.

Sustainability Outcomes

Solar gain

An analysis of seasonal sun paths determined the building’s location in order to maximise solar gain, whilst also providing a south-facing garden to grow produce and maximise views over the valley.  The compact design forms a sealed box that opens to the south and enables natural light and optimal cross and stack ventilation throughout. The south facing elevation and fenestration use optimal proportions of glazing (approximately 30% of the south elevation is glazed compared with just 5% of the northern), whilst alongside this deep window reveals and sliding shutters prevent excessive solar gain in the summer. These measures are designed to maximise solar gain in the winter and minimise overheating in the summer. The building only requires active heating throughout two months of the year and sustains internal temperatures though passive solar heating the in the shoulder seasons.

Green technologies

Collaborating with Green Earth Energy Ltd from the outset nearly 10% of the overall budget was invested in green technologies; the active heating strategy combines hot water from the 8KW log boiler and the solar collectors in a 500 litre accumulator tank, whilst the collectors also supply all domestic hot water needs and supplement the under floor heating system. A Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVRH) system efficiently ventilates during the winter months and a Klargestor Biodisk operates as a sealed ‘water waste processing plant’ in the garden.

Materials

Many of the materials were sourced locally; from the larch cladding, sourced and felled from the client’s estate two miles away and subsequently milled on site, to the Welsh slate, recycled from derelict buildings on the estate, which wrap the roof and exposed north wall, and internally locally sourced oak was used on the fit out. The house also uses Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) coupled with high performance windows and secondary insulation from a sheep’s wool blend.

Energy rating

Ty Pren achieved a SAP rating of 79 and Dwelling CO2 emissions rate 5.5 kgCO2/m2/year – six times more efficient than the government’s target emissions rate for a home of this size. Overall this 175m2 house produces 968.9 kg of carbon annually and with a small amount of energy generation on site this home has the potential to be zero carbon.

Related links
Feilden Fowles