March 2010
Kingsley Court, Uxbridge Road, Hayes End for Life Style Care
The care home development for operator Life Style Care is now completed and registered after inspection by the CQC. The building occupies a prominent corner site, which was formerly a council car park, adjacent to the junction of two primary distributor roads and overlooking a large recreation ground. Council planners required a 'landmark building'. Additionally a considerable number of planning issues had to be overcome, such as traffic noise and retention of existing mature trees on site.
Accommodation comprises 85 resident bedrooms over 3 floors, in addition to dayrooms there are centrally located activity rooms, a hair salon and multi sensory facility. Ancillary and support accommodation is within rooftop pavilions.
Environmental features of this development are; a green sedum covering to pitched roof areas; solar panel arrays to flat roof areas providing hot water heating, achieving 10% renewable energy criteria and an underground rainwater storage tank for site irrigation purposes.
Another development successfully completed by DWA Architects.
January 2010
Interior Design Department - Update
The Interior Design Department has been continuing their relationship with Wyevale Garden Centres and their cafe refurbishment programme. Crawley and Cheltenham opened Autumn 2009 and January 2010 has been busy with 3 new sites: Galton, Worcester and Findon, all due for completion early February 2010.
Work has also began on Willerby Manor Hotel reception area. The project involves creating a new entrance feature, reception desk and waiting area.
December 2009
Carebase - Aspen Grange Care Home, Braintree
Earlier this month Carebase, a long standing client of DWA, opened their latest care home in Braintree. the home has been designed to provide a homely and comfortable environment for its residents living with dementia. Whilst the home has 49 bedrooms the accommodation has been broken down to cater for smaller groups, so that each floor has two main day rooms in which differing moods are created. The dining room on each floor also double up as cinema rooms.
The building is of a contemporary design with brickwork and rendered walls, as well as using cedar boarding stepping in and out to create an interesting design with striking double height glazing to the main first floor day room. The incorporation of a courtyard garden with paths and large patio areas, including raised planting beds forms a range of peaceful and private sitting out spaces to complement the ground floor dayrooms.
November 2009
Avery Healthcare - Cepen Lodge in Chippenham
Cepen Lodge in Chippenham for Avery Developments opened last month. The home offers care for older people and people with dementia for long and short stay respite and convalescence care. The triangular shaped site provided a challenge, however, we have been able to utilise every part to provide excellent facilities, including a south facing garden with direct access from both lounge and dining areas. A quiet reflection area to the north of the building with wonder paths, raised beds and a Japanese garden have been incorporated to promote the use of the external space. All bedrooms have views of the surrounding countryside with many enjoying views over Chippenham golf course.
All rooms exceed the Government guidelines on space, have hotel style en-suite showers and are furnished to high standards. Numerous lounges, dining rooms and quiet areas have been designed to provide and promote relaxation and a home from home feeling. The dining rooms include a kitchenette area for residents and their families to make drinks and refreshments promoting independence and wellbeing.
October 2009
The Dementia Services Development Centre 3rd International Conference
This year we were invited to support Stirling University's The Dementia Services Development Centre 3rd International Conference - Facing the Future at York Racecourse. DWA Architects were able to exhibit both the company and the International Student Design Competition launched earlier in 2009. The theme of the conference, Facing the Future, responds to the UK National Dementia Strategy and the emerging dementia strategies across the world. The event brought together expertise and opinion from many parts of the world.
Special guest speaker during the event was Fiona Phillips. The former GMTV presenter has taken a prominent role in highlighting the challenges of finding support, diagnosis and funding for families of people with dementia.
The Dementia UK Awards was a key component of the conference. The awards are a celebration of innovation and good practice for organisations and individuals who have worked to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia. DWA Architects Chief Executive; David Ward presented the winner for the Dementia Design Innovation Award. The award is given for the design of a communal or individual setting used by people with dementia that demonstrates dementia friendly design.
Overall the conference was an excellent opportunity for DWA to meet with our existing clients and potential new contacts and also continue our working relationship with the University of Stirling.
October 2009
Interior Design Department - Update
The DWA Architects Interior Design Department have been busy during 2009 with the refurbishment of Wyevale Garden Centre cafes. Two new sites have opened this month; Colchester and Chelmsford. They are currently on site with Cheltenham due for completion later in October. Following a two day site meeting, Crawley, Worlds End, Heighley Gate, Ashton and Galton are further projects to be developed.
September 2009
Avery Healthcare - Hampton Vale, Peterborough
Newly completed, is our latest scheme for Avery Healthcare, an 86 bed nursing home on a prominent corner site, forming a gateway to the new town of Hampton Vale on the outskirts of Peterborough.
At 4 storeys high, the landmark building is faced in a mixture of brick, render, stone and Trespa cladding panels and features corner dining rooms with balconies. The upper floor bedrooms have panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the building continues our successful programme of high quality developments for this valued client.
July 2009
MHA Care Group - Close Care Apartments
Earlier this month saw the handover of the 29 close care apartment scheme in Penrith for MHA Care Group. All the apartments were pre-sold before the development was finished and some of the apartments are now occupied. The project also included alteration to the existing home, this work is due for completion this month and will provide a professional kitchen, larger dining rooms, lounge areas and improved communal facilities.
June 2009
Coleg Harlech Cambria Centre - Update
Last month Coleg Harlech WEA was the first learning provider in North Wales to receive the Quality Award. This is a significant step forward for the college and the Cambria Centre, with this award under their belts they can now lobby the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) hard to get funding for the development. This month we expect to see a significant step change in the activity to get funding for the project.
The proposed hotel and apartment scheme on the St David's site received planning last month, this also adds huge weight to the redevelopment of the area and pressure on the WAG.
June 2009
BUPA Care Services: Elmhurst, Warren Road, Brighton
Following a long and arduous planning application, permission was finally granted on the 80 bedroom dementia specific care home for BUPA Care Services. The contemporary design of the proposed building combines well with a new internal finish specification. Along with Warren Lane, Ashford, this development will be a flagship to promote BUPA's new brand of home.
1st May 2009
Winning Designs - YORK ARCHITECT UNVEILS CARE HOME DESIGNERS OF THE FUTURE
19th February 2009
Update of Design Competition - INTERNATIONAL DESIGNS ON THE FUTURE OF CARE HOMES
12th February 2009
Coleg Harlech - SHOW-STOPPING PLANS FROM WARRINGTON ARCHITECT
5th January 2009
Launch of Design Competition - YORK ARCHITECT ENCOURAGES DESIGNERS OF THE FUTURE
3rd November 2008
Monkbar Hotel - DOUBLE PLANNING SUCCESS FOR YORK ARCHITECTS