Sydenham Garden Centre

Value: £500k; client: Sydenham Garden; complete: Dec 2010

Sydenham Garden is a local charity providing services that complement statutory mental health services with a highly innovative approach to therapeutic gardening and creative activities. Originally set up by a GP-led local residents’ group in an underused nature reserve, the project managed with poor facilities across a split site.

Architype designed a new resource centre to help grow and strengthen the organisation’s fantastic services. The new building comprises office space, meeting room, flexible training room, 1 to 1 space, and kitchen, with direct access into the garden.

The building is a sustainable exemplar and is constructed from natural materials, which are warm and textural, and remind people of their connection to the earth and nature. A sense of solidity comes from the chunky timber, and spaces are full of natural light which is calming and uplifting.

The fully accessible building is designed to Passivhaus principles, with super insulation and triple glazed windows and doors. An MVHR system provides fresh air whilst recovering 90% of the heat from the stale air. A solar panel and an Air Source Heat Pump provide supplementary heat. Lighting is low energy, and external lighting is solar powered. Rainwater is routed into an existing well.

The garden comprises growing plots, nature reserve, and restored greenhouse. Volunteers and co-workers have built a bird hide, a wildlife pond and a bridge. The building’s biodiverse roof is an ongoing project that staff and co-workers are designing and planting.

Architype is monitoring the building’s environmental performance and early indications show excellent performance.

Winner of the Best Mental Health Design award at the Building Better Healthcare Awards November 2011.