Architype won a limited competition co-ordinated by the North Kent Architecture Centre to design a Children and Family Centre in Sheerness. Working with the aims of Sure Start, the design addresses and improves the link between home and school. Welcoming, accessible spaces are created, encouraging social interaction without compromising the need for clearly defined areas for:

• A 50 place day care nursery

• Social Services

• A Primary Health Care community facility

The form of the building comprises simple pavilions set in irregular relationship to each other. The resulting spaces between the pavilions are covered by a single roof and toplit, creating a series of places each with a distinct character.

This scheme is instrumental in pioneering the use of solid clay block wall construction in the UK – reducing cement usage and exceeding building regulations without the need for additional insulation.

Further info: www.sheerness.surestart.org