ADDINGHAM
Primary Care Centre
Location:
Main Street, Addingham, West Yorkshire
Client:
Dr Suleman
Approx Value:
£1.4m
The Medical Centre’s design was chiefly inspired by the local vernacular and
the need to fit into the Addingham Conservation area. The sustainable credentials
of the building are partly a result of this vernacular construction and partly
a necessity of the current requirements of part L of the building regulations.
Natural, local materials were specified for the construction of the building in
order to suit the site context, as well as reducing the environmental impact of
the materials’ production and transport. The building nestles into the hill side,
causing less visual impact on the surrounding village and sheltering from the
prevailing winds. Spoil from the excavation of the building’s footprint was retained
on site and utilised to form the plateau for a new sports pitch for the village.
The building’s construction and services minimise the building’s energy usage
and thus CO2 production, by way of high thermal mass, high levels of insulation
and the latest technologies. The building is heated by an Air Source Heat Pump,
serving an under-floor heating system. A small amount of electrical energy is
used to extract heat from the outside air. This heat is efficiently distributed
and stored in the building by water based under floor heating, set in heavy concrete
floors. A sophisticated control system ensures that only the required amount of
heat is produced. Low energy light fittings with automatic switching further
help to save energy. With the exception of the sealed surgical rooms, the building
is naturally ventilated. Roof lights at the top of the entrance atrium help to
draw external air through the building. The buildings insulation standards are
well above those required by the building regulations.
The particular nature of the buildings procurement could also be considered to
be sustainable. Many Primary Health Care facilities such as this are procured
by a third party developer with a specific lease period agreed prior to construction.
The buildings are thus constructed with a known – generally very short - life
span. This life span, can lead to a building which, despite performing in ‘sustainable‘
way during its life time, is destined to be demolished within 15 or 25 years,
an approach which is incredibly wasteful when considered in the long term. The
Addingham Medical centre differs from this common approach as it was procured
by the Doctor directly. Our client was not just interested in the financial return
generated by the building in the short term, but was also concerned about the
running of the building, its inhabitation and its long term future. The client
was also keen to diversify the usage of the medical centre, including a pharmacist,
a physiotherapy suite and a future expansion space (potentially a dentists), all
of which help to ensure that the building is sustainable in its future use.
