Care Home

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Located in Shropshire and situated within a wider residential area. The context is comprised of a medieval historic town core and a central shopping street with contemporary shop fronts. 

In response to the historical setting and surrounding heritage assets, this proposal acknowledges the significant building character of the local area and the design purposely reflects the local vernacular through its scale, detailing, material choice and strategic layout. The proposal aimed to remain sensitive to the surrounding built landscape and to preserve the local setting through the adoption of local features and materials whilst minimising contemporary development impact through the careful positioning of building mass. This also preserved existing privacy and provided public open spaces to augment the sense of local community. 

The arrangement of the proposal was positioned in relation to the strict width restrictions of the site. There were several site conditions which drove design choices, such as the topographical change in level across the site and the need to avoid overlooking existing properties. A retaining wall was used between level changes to minimise the extent of cut and fill required. Exterior spaces and terraces incorporated for some resident bedrooms were recessed to echo the local context. The main entrance features a shop-font appearance seated beneath the first-floor overhang. The glazing used for the front café references the surrounding shops and offers interest to the elevation and views up the high street. Ultimately the design provided a 60 bed care home on a site with many constrains and restrictions. The design approach and aesthetic was welcomed and supported by the Local Authority.