Uniting modern methods of construction with the traditional and ...

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Uniting modern methods of construction
with the traditional and sustainable
“The overall design
concept for the
building is to
provide a showcase
for sustainable and
innovative skills.”
View of the overhanging roof and glazing to facilitate use of daylight
The overall design concept for the building is to
provide a showcase for sustainable and innovative
skills. The method of construction could be described
as a hybrid solution; marrying the advantages of
modern methods with traditional and sustainable
construction elements and techniques.
This fact is demonstrated by the use of a factory
fabricated laminated timber frame clad with local
stone from various quarries laid using different
masonry techniques. The pre-fabricated timber glulam
frame allowed the building to be constructed to a
watertight standard in less time than conventional load
bearing construction. High thermal mass, air tightness
and durability were provided by a ‘wrap around’
masonry skin of Derbyshire limestone and gritstone.
The Eco Centre has achieved a BREEAM Excellent
rating and a key element of this required extensive
focus on the minimisation of waste during the design
process. Consequently internal planning and choice of
materials were carefully considered.
Internal planning focused on the provision of multi
purpose flexible spaces and elimination of corridors.
Internal finishes are presented in their most raw state,
for example the concrete floor is left exposed but
polished; internal studwork is left unpainted but clad
with wood wool boarding which is left ‘as is’.
Unnecessary items have been eliminated, for example
skirting boards and suspended ceilings. All these
factors contributed to speed of construction and
greater efficiency in terms of minimising waste,
Internal view showing the use of natural
materials in the ‘raw’
whilst at the same time allowed the materials to be
presented as they are.