The Peak Districts Moorland Centre in Edale by Bower Mattin has sedum roofs over two wings of the information centre and shop, whilst a glass bottomed waterfall brings you into the reception space with light and water above. Worth a visit for a pint in the local Old Nags Head

A waterfall forms the central roof visible and audible from the inside

Sedum roof eaves detail at The Moorland Centre in Edale

Bennetts Associates is relying on designed-in sustainability, rather than renewables, for its refurbishment of Ashburton Court in Winchester. During the refurbishment the top floor of the buildings will be cut back, pedestrian bridges removed, and new one-storey buildings built at the centre of the block along a new internal street to house a reception area, a restaurant and café, an auditorium and meeting rooms. Analysis of the building’s concrete frame, slabs and foundations using Envest, the BRE’s Whole Lifecycle Environmental Impact Analysis software, showed that they comprise about half of the building’s embodied energy.

Winchester has not adopted a mandatory 10%, but rather a suggestion of renewables. After extensive analysis, Bennetts was able to demonstrate that the real issue was overall energy consumption, not the percentage of on-site generation.

Architects Journal. 26 Apr (Pg. 38-40)

Announced at an RIBA seminar yesterday…

Dance City Malcolm Fraser Architects

MIMA Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects

Rivergreen Centre - Jane Darbyshire + David Kendall

Some Fact + Figures

• Approximately 2million people in the UK are blind or partially sighted
• Approximately 9million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, but only an approximate 50-70,000 use British Sign Language. Around 123,000 have lost their hearing after learning the spoken language. Approximately 23,000 people are deaf-blind
• Only an estimated 18% of blind people are totally blind
• Assisting Dogs work by avoiding obstacles, moving in the straightest line possible
• Long Cane users use their cane to detect obstacles, often using a building line to detect changes in condition - door openings, corner, kerb etc.
• An estimated 8million people in the UK have arthritis. Approximately 1million are under 50years of age, and approximately 15,000 are children
• There are approximately 750,000 wheelchair users in the UK
• The Point? Accessibility is for ALL - from a blind person to a wheelchair user, to a fully able bodied person carrying a full load of shopping.
• Accessibility for disabled people is in part about empowerment - we all act differently when we have confidence.
• Simple and common measures can empower visually disabled people:
• clear signage - few people enjoy asking for help!
• signage should have image and text, as visual imparements vary
• strong icons help orientation and wayfinding
• tactile maps can be child-friendly too
• audible way finding
• consistent good quality light levels
• Central sight loss reduces clarity of fine detail + colour - strong light can be unbearable
• Peripheral vision reduces depth perception although limited areas of clear vision occur. Strong light is preferred to increase contrast and depth of field.
• In design, used diffused and even light levels, using spots if required to emphasise design features, but keeping directed light away from direct vision.
• Sporadic loss of sight causes problems particularly with glazed areas. Small scale, subtle manifestation can be confused or misinterpreted by the brain, and therefore easily missed. In design, use angular manifestations with good colour contrast levels.
• Ramps should be designed to current standards, but attention to paving detail is required:
• Single, anti-slip surface will reduce the perception of a stepped surface. Ensure access to ramp is legible by those who use long canes - they should ideally meet the building external wall.
• Simple design measures can also empower hearing impared people:
• Provide clear lighting to allow easy lip-reading
• Provide space for a BSL interpreter in presentation spaces
• Reduce distractions around reception desks, etc, where lip-reading may be used
• Provide quiet areas where discreet communication is required
• Clear signage
• If an induction loop is to be installed, make sure its in the correct location
• BS8300 is undergoing its 5year review
• Part M requries 30pt contrast, BS8300 currently requires 20pt
• Project Rainbow gives many more options for colour contrasts, and suggests key locations where contrast is required.
• New Dulux CD has been produced (and ordered) - new colour fan required for input colour refs.

Useful links

RNIB:

RNID:

National Register of Access Consultants:

 Case Study – Urban Splash @ New Islington
  

• 12 Hectare Site 
• Part of Millenium Housing Sites 
• 1970’s Housing Estate dubbed the Worst Estate in Manchester 
• Assests retatined – 
• Canal Network 
• Community Spirit 
• Collaborative Workshops offered re-housing options to residents 
• Rebranding of estate 
• Will Alsop Masterplan, including “the Chips” 
• Mixed Use, including 
• 1700 new homes 
• Variety of Parks – Community Park, Wildlife Island, Orchard, Boardwalk, Beach 
• Revival of Waterway 
• Primary School 
• Primary Care Centre 
• Small Scale Retail 
• 180units/hectare 
• All dwellings to achieve Eco-Homes Excellent 
• Maximise use of natural sunlight 
• Use of low embodied energy materials throughout 
• Combined Heat and Power, future-proofed for bio-fuels 
• Jobs created for local people within the construction phase
    

Things you might forget, or things you might not know… 

• Integrate design at an early stage – ideally stage A/B, rather than at Stage C/D – consulting Energy Engineers / assessors. Check for Policy changes if the project has been on hold for a while.
    
• Recent UK Policy changes include PPS1 Addendum –
              Demonstrate how building regulations to be met at planning stage
    
• Passive Design – 
• Use the sun’s energy to reduce winter heating requirement 
• Orientate main façade within 30degrees of south 
• Avoid overshadowing 
• Utilise thermal mass to store heat 
• Minimise glazing to north façade 
• Add a glazed winter garden to south façade 
• Incorporating 2-3% Carbon Dioxide emission savings may reduce the “renewables” target – spray taps, smaller baths, energy efficient applicances + lights
• Remember to design in CHP Spaces into 1st phase of phased construction
  Use Thermal Analysis at scheme design stage to highlight potential overheating + design out prior to planning consent
    
• Check Planning Policy for correct wording –
  If 10% CO2 saving is required, target electrical – 3.5m2 Solar Thermal panels should achieve target saving
  If 10% Energy saving is required, target Gas – 2.2m2 Solar Thermal panels should achieve target saving
    
• Code for Sustainable Homes – Water
  Average UK use – 150 litres/person/day
  Typical Spec – 190 l/p/d
              6l Standard WC
              full flow taps
              standard bath – 200l
              shower – 15 l/minute flow
  Level 3 – 105 l/p/d
              Dual Flush 6/4 l WC
              Aerated taps
              Small bath – 150l
              6 litre shower 

Level 5 – 80 l/p/d 

Dual Flush 4/2 l WC 

Aerated taps 

Small bath 

Less than 6litre shower

Rainwater / Greywater harvesting for WC Flush 

 Products
   

• Pilkington “Optitherm” glazing controls heat loss and solar gain  
• “Ecoplay” grey water systems will treat + recycle grey water for use in WCs  
• “Dupont Energain” is a gypsum/paraffin Wax sealed board, which absorbs heat in lightweight construction by altering its state (effectively melts and solidifies) in hot temperatures. More info    
• Wind Turbines –  
• Swift (1.5kW, 2.1m diameter), £5250, provides approx 50% electricity needs of a 3bed house  
• Proven (15kW, 9m diameter), £40,000, provides all electricity needs of 7.5no. 3bed houses      

Foster’s debut hospital, proposed for Peasedown St John, a village to the south of the city,will treat private as well as NHS patients under a government initiative to let people choose where they receive treatment.

The hospital will have exterior balconies, and climbing plants will help it to blend with the landscape.

The proposed hospital is the first of 20 such schemes planned across the country by Centres of Clinical Excellence, a private sector partnership comprising heathcare professionals and business managers. The company has also signed up Richard Rogers and Michael Hopkins for its building programme in an effort to revolutionise healthcare construction.

Centres of Clinical Excellence argues that “a healing environment” should be a key design element in healthcare. The company also considers “contact with the natural environment” to be a vital part of this process.

The company declined to comment before the planning committee hearing, but according to its website, its facilities will incor-porate the “healing properties of natural light, the soothing effects of colour and clean, uncluttered internal spaces”.

for more

Source: Building Design, Issue 9th March 2007

Ok, so we may have adapted the coolwall idea from a certain BBC motoring show, but the BD has also pinched the concept. Keep up to date and have your say!

have a look  

View from 1st Floor ward into Therapy Garden and Multi-Faith Space

Artwork in the central cafe combines colours used in each of the hospital wards, creating exciting and easy wayfinding around the building.

de Blacam + Meagher’s Cork Institute of Technology

Source: Architecture Today, Issue 175 Feb 2007

Buschow Henley’s St John’s Therapy Centre, Clapham procured through NHS LIFT

Source: BD 16 Feb 2007

• Vision of Redcar + Cleveland Council to regenerate Redcar by creating new Leisure and shopping hub in the Links area
• Development with Persimmon  won in competition
• Masterplan based around creation of a link Axis from Church to Waterfront
• Apartments to waterfront
• Housing behind apartments
• Public zone on eastern edge of the site, to include Extreme Sports, Bingo, Visitor Centre, Leisure Centre, Pub, Shops, Medical Centre, Parking, etc
• Previous schemes by Carey Jones (visitor centre)  and Limbrick (leisure centre) have been abandoned. New schemes developed by P+HS Architects
• Planning Application submitted mid 2006
• Early schemes involved the development of the Brief, which had been basic and incomplete
• Early elevation design created issues with Planning Authority and a number of issues were explored further and refined.
• Concepts for revised elevations follow Marine theme
• Curving roof
• Fin walls omitted
• Local material – brick and render
• Durable materials at ground floor to limit effects of vandalism
• Sporting Consultants involved to confirm brief and functional requirements.
• No views into sporting areas from outside impact on elevations
• P+HS keen to maintain high quality of design for when the scheme reaches Construciton phase, e.g carry out early detail design as part of pre-tender works.
• AT future review on maintaining design integrity through detailing will be useful