The approach to designing the children's home was first and foremost to provide a homely setting, however it must also incorporate the more technical and security driven requirements of such a building in a discrete a manner as possible. These conflicting aspects required thorough research and considerable effort was invested to achieve design solutions that were fit for purpose.  A full consultation process with staff and residents enabled everyone to feel a real sense of input and ownership in the design of the new building. 

 

The building layout maintains a traditional home feel - front and back door, hallway, landing plus other traditional domestic rooms. At the heart of the house the hallway is designed as a ‘dumbbell’ layout partially intersected by the main staircase. This subtle division serves to maintain privacy for the young residents from the more formal areas whilst still allowing all the rooms to be located together, it also facilitates appropriate levels of passive observation for staff. This ethos is replicated throughout the home. The bedrooms are designed so that each has an element of interest, be it a sloped ceiling or bay window, this reflects the reality that a traditional home often has individual rooms of different sizes.

 

Considerable effort was placed in achieving the technical aspects of the design particularly  relating to security and the robustness of materials and fittings required. Specifications were rigorously developed and tested, working with the client, staff, building control body, manufacturers and contractor to develop secure, durable and low maintenance design solutions. Project undertaken whilst working at Acivico Ltd.