Urban regeneration in Bristol ignites inspired design flare - by Lee Hankins

It has been a pleasure as well as an education to complete the design of a scheme of this nature and magnitude.

This opportunity has arisen as part of my Part 2 Architecture Degree at De Montfort University in Leicester from which I have now graduated after nine years of hard work.

Photo render external of Avonmouth Docks project in Bristol

The selected design challenge, initiated in my final year, was to design a new cruise ship terminal within the Avonmouth Docks in Bristol to provide new opportunities for the city.

Photo render internal of Avonmouth Docks project in Bristol

This represented an exciting opportunity to allow architecture to mould the surrounding area into an extremely prominent destination.  The new buildings and facilities include a new cruise ship terminal with conference facilities, bars and cafes along the waterfront and a new bus and train station.

Photo renders elevations of Avonmouth Docks project in Bristol

The main design element of the project was centred around the new cruise ship terminal and conference centre, or the 'Hub' as it was named.

Physical model photo of Avonmouth Docks project in Bristol

Sustainability...the entire eastern facade of the building is made up from purpose designed 'thermal cubes' which act as a 'jumper' for the building in the winter allowing it to draw hot air for use by the heating system and also hot water.

In the summer months the thermal cubes are used to purge hot air from the building using a series of valves and ducts. All of this is achieved whilst maintaining transparency of the facade and creating a gradual transition from the public space on the plaza to the high security internal space of the terminal building.

Custom designed thermal cube

During my nine years, I have undertaken many design projects and have completed many assignments including two dissertations; ‘Sustainability in Buildings for Healthcare’ and ‘Buildings that Teach’, investigating how the design of educational buildings affects child psychology and their development and learning. Given that philosophies promoting faster learning are similar to those that promote good health, both of these dissertations proved helpful in practice working in the healthcare department of brp architects.

Throughout my formal education I have obtained thirteen years office experience. The next stage for me is to complete my Part 3 to become a fully qualified Architect which I will be starting this coming September.

- Lee Hankins -

Zumtobel Photographic Competition: Our considered efforts…

This competition has exhibited some inspiring and thought provoking photos over the years. We are therefore delighted that the judges have considered 2 of the photos from our our first 2 entries into the competition! Take a look...

Photo by Michael Erwin for brp architects

Zumtobel have kept the competition evenly matched for all applicants by only accepting entries taken with the disposable camera they supply. Infact you will not even see the photos until they have been judged and posted back to you. 

Photo by Simon Bird for brp architects

So this is how the competition works… 

Fill out a form, Zumtobel post you a disposable camera, you take some photos, send the camera back…and wait for the results in the post. Best of all the whole thing is FREE!

Terms and conditions...

The winning entries feature in building design magazine and online at bdonline - Life in film: Zumtobel Photographic Competition (login required)

Going Green in the Green Belt…

Firstly…the final testimony to the success of this building rests with the occupiers who embarked on the journey for new premises;

“It is a wonderful building ….nothing but praise from the patients, the doctors and staff ecstatic. It must be very satisfying to see a set of drawings change into the real thing – and then see that it was all that was hoped for.” 
Alan Johnston – Senior Partner WWGP 

The Warrens 'State of the art' Medical Surgery, Wirral - Winter photo

What began with an open public procurement process came to a dramatic close in January 2012 with the handing over of the keys to The West Wirral Group Practice and NHS Wirral. 

Through a rigorous site search process the team identified all sites that satisfied the development criteria. The final scoring of the sites determined that whilst still highly contentious, the former Warrens Nursery site was the most appropriate, if not the only one available. 

The Warrens 'State of the art' Medical Surgery, Wirral - Interior photo

Mindful that planning approval in the green belt can be highly elusive; there was no certainty that the proposals would be granted permission. During the initial stages brp worked closely with both Solicitors and a Barrister specialising in planning law to ensure as far as possible that the scheme minimised the physical, ecological and visual impact on the green belt in order to maximise the proposal’s chances of approval. 

A truly sustainable proposal was developed incorperating numerous features to assist integrating the building into it’s context and minimise impact. 

These include but are not restricted to;-

• Lowering of the building into the ground in order to maintain the silhouette of the broadleaf woodland backdrop.
• Incorporating rustic materials that would in time mellow and harmonise with the backdrop, including natural stonework, natural green oak cladding and a sedum planted roof.
• Creating connecting vehicular and pedestrian access routes in to the site that meander in order to obscure the building from beyond the site.
• Utilising and sympathetically adapting existing access points while disturbing the site boundary as little as possible.
• Surface water run-off facilitated through the green roof and permeable paving systems
• Swales and balancing features. 

The design also embraces sustainable technology and design including:

• Passive natural ventilation
• Air tightness standards
• High thermal mass
• solar heating 

The Warrens 'State of the art' Medical Surgery, Wirral - Summer visual

The state of the art 2000+m2 medical surgery provides:-

• 14 GP Consulting Rooms
• 4 Nurse Consulting Rooms
• 3 Nurse Treatment Rooms
• Minor Procedures Suite
• A further 13 flexible and dedicated clinical rooms
• Health Education Room
• Community Nursing Team Base
• Staff accommodation.
• Pharmacy 

The site its self, a former redundant horticultural facility, provides:

• 98 delicately considered car parking spaces
• Meadow grass and wild flower areas
  
• New formal planting areas
• Raised land features integrating the building into the site

The accommodation is arranged over two floors in order to minimise the overall footprint. The curved plan of the main building breaks down the scale externally. The use of two storey internal spaces with single storey eternal projections creates a light and airy feel to the building environment.
 

The Warrens 'State of the art' Medical Surgery, Wirral - Winter photos

The central entrance, reception and waiting room have a strong external presence and from these central locations the three wings of accommodation radiate on both floors providing for short internal travel distances. The first floor waiting room is galleried over that on the ground floor providing an essential two-way link with reception. 

In addition to the core architectural service provided by brp architects, brp environmental also provided sustainability guidance and BREEAM assessor services achieving a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating in the process.

We feel that the end result is a credit to all concerned.