Entry Title: "
Hayle Ecolodge"
Company:
Woodford Architecture + Interiors
,
United Kingdom
Category: Professional, Concept
Designer(s): Gavin Woodford
Entry Description:
a) What is the entry and its intended use.
The entry is for a highly imaginative project for a 30 bedroom eco lodge hotel with associated restaurant and visitor centre is to be located on the site of a former petrol service station on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
The ecolodge will have 30 rooms, each of which will be capable of accommodating two or more people. There will also be a restaurant and cafe, which will be used during the day and evening for up to 60 covers. It is anticipated that the restaurant, which will be designed to make the most of its outstanding location and estuary views, will be popular throughout the day with both guests and other visitors.
The project responds to the site topography by designing a building that appears to form part of the landscape. The building has been set back from the roadway, the formation of grass covered earth berms help to conceal the vehicles parked behind them; this in turn helps to create a more sheltered space in front of the building protected from vehicular noise and blustery weather. The extremities of the building have been gently sloped to suggest the building is growing out of the landscape. The tapered ends will provide space for storage and rainwater collection tanks which will be used as a supply of water for maintenance and cleaning and plant watering.
The main entrance to the building is either by steps or by a ramped approach on either side of the building. Visitors will be greeted at the reception area inside a dramatic double height space with views afforded both towards the RSPB reserve at the rear of the site and back across the Estuary; this double height space serves as the principal circulation space for the building with a passenger lift and staircase serving the upper floor levels. Each bedroom will be orientated to take advantage of the panoramic views of the estuary, with a private balconies equipped with binoculars, telescopes and interpretation charts. The interior design will maximize visitors sense of connection to the environment.
During the day, the visitor centre will be open and the cafe would be available for visitor use. The viewing deck on the restaurant level can be accessed from the visitor centre, guests and visitors can enjoy the facilities of the restaurant throughout the day. On the southern elevation of the building a deck on two levels is set behind a glazed slatted timber screen which provides sheltered access to guests rooms, along the routeway there are viewing ports which allow limited views out the reserve. From the visitor centre and restaurant there is access onto a panoramic viewing deck.
It is anticipated that the cafe will be very popular not only with local people in the evening but also with visitors to the area. An open deck with public access is provided centrally and it is proposed that binoculars and telescopes would be available for viewing the wildlife. The building has been designed with a green biodiversity roof which will blend the building into the landscape minimizing impact on the views, both from and around the site. The Green roof also offers other environmental benefits such as reduced impact of storm water runoff on the drainage systems and will provide greater thermal performance and sound insulation. As part of the wider design scheme, it is intended to introduce areas of vegetation and wetland to the perimeters of the site in the form of landscaping. Design of these areas has taken full account of the requirements for reptiles and amphibians, with the aim of encouraging further habitat development.
This development will deliver a unique landmark building which will greatly add to the tourism marketing potential for the whole region.
b) How the entry is manufactured and delivered to consumers
The building elements have been developed in a modular format of the allow for prefabrication of shell reducing site costs and build period and minimum site disturbance.
The prefabricated structure will minimize the on-site waste produced during construction.
The design of the services system will incorporate high efficiency gas fired condensing boilers. All of the bedrooms will utilise natural ventilation with small energy efficient mechanical ventilation systems for bathrooms, kitchen and the cafe which will also incorporate heat recovery where suitable.
Throughout the scheme both for internal and external lighting we are proposing low energy lighting with proximity detection for the bedrooms.
The control system for the building will be through Energy efficient automatic controls combined with a small Building Management System with entry system controls to the bedrooms.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) will be incorporated into the design.
Rainwater collection and recycling of grey water will be incorporated within the design.
The fabric of the building will be designed with high levels of insulation to walls, floors and ceilings and double glazed windows to minimize air infiltration.
The design has been developed intend to maximize the use of non toxic materials and materials that come from sustainable sources.
The design will be manufactured with a FSC accredited timber frame structure with minimal footprint and foundation requirements and manufactured less than 15 miles from the site.
c. How the entry exhibits excellence in sustainability and environmental responsibility
The Hayle Estuary is one of the most important feeding grounds in the South West of the United Kingdom for migratory and over-wintering wildfowl and wading birds with large numbers being recorded annually. Hayle is an all-year round bird-watching venue; spring and particularly autumn can be very interesting with the passage of migrants and regular rarities.
During bad weather in winter, seaducks and divers take refuge in Carnsew Pool. When estuaries become frozen over birds are forced South and West to the Hayle Estuary, the warmest estuary in the country. Up to 18,000 birds have been seen at such times. Over a thousand Wigeon turn up to winter on the estuary, along with several hundred Teal. These ducks have travelled South to spend the winter in the mild climates in Cornwall. There are also several species of wader that winter here. Dunlin, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Curlew can all be seen feeding and roosting on the estuary in large numbers. In spring and autumn there are many birds that use the estuary as a stop off point on their migration route and this can lead to some unusual species turning up. The estuary is vital for these birds to rest and feed on their way to breeding or wintering grounds.
The design came as a response to the unique location and its role as an important habitat for birds. Our aim is to achieve a solution that will make the most of the eco-tourism opportunities and the wildlife tourism potential of the area. The site is likely to attract bird watchers en route to the Isles of Scilly as well as providing a perfect location for autumn and winter bird watching breaks.
The project which has received planning approval is seen as making a very positive contribution to the environment in terms of sustainable development and to the regional economy in terms of tourism provision and job creation. Our design offers the site a new lease of life and has redevloped a redundant petrol station site into a eco-tourist attraction.
Design Team:
Architect: Woodford Architecture + Interiors: Contact: Gavin Woodford, Joseph Dunn
Structural engineers: Aecom: Contact: Dan Smith
Mechanical and electrical services engineers: Aecom: Contact: Dan Smith
Flood risk consultants: Aardvark: Contact: Laura McKechnie, Jon Petit
Ecology consultants: Aardvark: Contact: Adam Robbins
Green Travel consultants: GHK consulting Contact: Heather Rose
Business name:
Woodford Architecture + Interiors
15 North Street
Ashburton
Devon
TQ13 7QH
T +44 (0)1364 654888
Contact: Gavin Woodford
Profile: Woodford Architecture + Interiors create places and spaces our clients love living, working and playing in. |
