New Headquarters for 'Dogs for the Disabled' charity

The client’s brief was for a building which satisfied their particular needs for the disabled, had an individual identity and was within a budget of £390,000.

In just nine months, from June 1999 to February 2000, the new 385 square metre headquarters were constructed, with funding from the National Lottery Board, on the site of a former commercial kennel. The previous infrastructure was attractive to the client but the site had a considerable slope across it which meant careful consideration had to be given to the needs of wheelchair users.

The building comprises two single storey wings juxtaposed at an angle to follow the contours and shape of the site. The wings have totally different functions: one houses the administration offices for the charity; the other provides residential accommodation with en suite facilities for up to four disabled clients. Between these is the central reception with a full height glazed entrance canopy. From here radiate the wide central corridors which are also full height, capped with ridge patent glazing to maintain the attractive feeling of light and space. Either side of this circulation route the accommodation is provided in simple rendered monopitch blocks combined with carefully detailed natural timber screens.

The building and has been designed to allow for the second phase of the development which includes two additional en suite bedrooms plus an extension of the offices.

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