Empathise and engage

If there’s one thing we’ve learned makes better buildings, it’s empathy. Architecture never happens in isolation—and simply by being interested and engaged, we’ve found it’s possible to open up the conversations that connect a scheme to its clients and community.

Weconstraints

We believe that the more constraints there are, the better the architecture. If there aren’t any constraints, we create them. Challenging sites, existing buildings and complex briefs almost always present incredible opportunities for great design.

Passive future

To limit our environmental impact, we start with what is already there. By manipulating the form and fabric of a building—whether new or existing—we can work with the existing conditions of topography, light and orientation, and harness the natural energy sources offered by air, ground and water.

Social detail

If a site’s constraints guide the bigger design decisions, then it’s empathy that informs the smaller, social details. These details frame the human narratives that aren’t included in the brief, anticipating specific moments in the users’ lives.

Mud on our boots

Good architecture is as much about what happens on the building site as it is about what’s on the drawing board. By working alongside contractors as well as clients we can ring-fence the ideas and details that matter, championing quality and sustainability throughout construction.

Derriford Care Centre
WorkStudioActivityNewsContact
Curl la Tourelle Head
Work
  • Derriford Care Centre

  • Plymouth

Client
  • University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

  • Aviva

A new stand-alone care facility that forms part of the North West Quadrant site at
Derriford Hospital.

The new building will combine diagnostic, operating theatres, consulting and inpatient spaces into one building, meaning it can function in its own right while remaining part of the main hospital care setting. Organised over three levels and negotiating a steeply sloping site, the new building is set to offer a radical change in community healthcare provision for the area.

The site’s location and topography offers a broad set of opportunities to arrange ‘high tech’ and homely’ activities in accordance with their unique requirements - mature trees and beautiful views to the south offer a connection to nature, and a sloping site offers the opportunity to have level access at more than one level.

The Y-shaped plan creates efficient clinical pathways and adjacencies, with clear legibility and orientation from a central welcome lounge. The form also maximises opportunities for natural light and ventilation, with inset respite gardens. The sloping site is utilised to deliver public realm, retail, food and beverage at a ‘Care Square’ plaza level, without impacting on the privacy of the healthcare spaces.

Improving staff and patient experience was a key focus in the design, ensuring sight lines to all beds from nursing stations, natural light and pleasant environments in consultation rooms and views to the tree-lined site from surgery areas while ensuring privacy.

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