Daffodil House Middlesbrough, UK
Daffodil House is an 8 no. apartment building providing independent living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities containing a separate lounge, kitchen/dining space and en-suite bedrooms.
The building – part of an existing care community based on a working farm – is set within a communal landscaped courtyard and designed around an ‘internal’ street’. Two apartments have ‘live in’ care accommodation and there is also a communal kitchen/lounge and boot room. All ground floor apartments have level access and there is lift access to the first floor. In keeping with its location on a working farm, all the apartments have private gardens with vegetable beds.
Despite its modest cost (£1.4M), the accommodation exceeds the statutory space standards by 15 – 20%. All apartments are light and airy with interesting spaces created by the angles of the sloping ceilings. High quality materials, fixtures and fittings have been used throughout, whilst externally, timber cladding and level red brickwork match those of the surrounding buildings.
Sustainability was also crucial to the project. The building has photovoltaic panels in the roof which contribute to energy consumption (EPC rating: A) and the foul and surface water drainage is to a reed bed system. The design accommodates ‘whole life’ changes, which together with the above, ensures the long term viability of the project. The design process also utilised BIM, which ensured significant cost and energy efficiencies for both the construction and future management of the building. Air quality standards are very good: test ratings are high. Also, the levels of natural daylight are very high due to large expanses of curtain walling in all parts of the design.
Close community involvement in this project was fundamental for the client. The Trust’s social care philosophy is founded on the principle of inclusivity and they requested that the residents were ‘at the centre of the design’. The wider Camphill Community were involved in the siting of the accommodation and the choice of name.
“Tenants have settled in well and are loving their accommodation’. The long terms prospects for the building are extremely good: both materials and construction used are of high quality and design solutions tailored effectively. Significantly, the success of this project has resulted in the local authority identifying it as ‘an exemplar’ for future projects.” Mike English, General Manager
Every project starts with a conversation.
Let’s discuss your opportunities, constraints and questions.
