The Sustainability Centre

Our team developed an EnerPHit solution, rooted in natural materials, for the renovation of the 1970s learning centre in the South Downs National Park.

Location

Petersfield, UK

Area

Status

Design

Year

2019

Client

The Sustainability Centre

The Sustainability Centre have a vision of developing a New Learning Centre that will provide inspiring new teaching spaces for children and adults, using natural building techniques and showcasing the values and practices that they teach.

Following a detailed analysis of a range of new-build and refurbishment options, our team developed proposals to carry out a low carbon Passivhaus Enerphit refurbishment and extension of the existing hub building to create a new flagship Learning Centre.

We have a proven track-record in delivering natural low-impact materials as part of mainstream solutions.

Natural Materials

How can natural, low-impact materials be effectively integrated into projects?

Innovating with Natural Materials

Is demolition and rebuild always the solution?

Circular Economy

Is demolition and rebuild always the solution?

Crafting High Performance Retrofit

Vision

All vision

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Design

The simple form of the building is transformed with a layered design, reflecting the natural shapes and materials of the National Park setting. The new timber structural elements and cladding reinforce the building’s connection to the environment. The design response seeks to work with, rather than against the existing 1970s structure, augmenting it with a new timber deck structure that unifies the new with the old. Our proposal also celebrates the sustainable use of ultra-local resources from the South Downs, including a Lawson Cypress natural pole structures sourced directly from the site and Cedar cladding from within a mile of the Centre’s boundary.

EnerPHit principles are met through highly efficient components such as windows, airtightness, ventilation systems. The internal heat gains and solar gains will now actively contribute to the building’s energy demand. Infiltration is also dramatically reduced, all of which will include an 80% improvement in carbon and over a 95% reduction in total delivered energy to the building, compared with the existing building’s previous performance. At the time of project delivery, this was one of the first commercial Passivhaus EnerPHit designs in the UK, an exemplar demonstrator for low energy refurbishment

As well as the sustainable and low carbon priniciples, these improvements will bring lower energy bills and running costs for the charity going forwards, so more funds can be invested into the centre’s mission, including; adult learning; school visits; camping; private hire; corporate retreats; natural burials; weddings and other events.