The new Genesis Centre at Somerset College of Arts and Technology is a revolutionary approach to teaching and evaluating cutting-edge thinking in ecological construction. It provides a world class education resource for Somerset College, the construction industry and organisations engaged in sustainable practice.

The Genesis Centre building embodies and accommodates The Genesis Project which was established by Somerset College in 2001 to explore different forms of sustainable construction and design, including construction processes previously seen as 'fringe'. The new building inventively combines different sustainable building methods and materials with contemporary architecture.

The result is an elegant central pavilion which gives access into five smaller, separate pavilions, each demonstrating and exploring different sustainable construction materials and methods including cob walls, rammed earth walls, straw bales, and clay blocks. The building is also an ongoing experiment - evaluation of the methods and materials will continue throughout the life of the building.

“Architype’s visionary interpretation of our requirement for a building which would serve a platform for the delivery of knowledge and skills associated with sustainable construction has exceeded even our highest expectations” – Ian Moore, Genesis Operations Director

www.genesisproject.com/