Livegreen Blog
Architype’s Sydenham Garden Centre. A sustainable project awarded the 2011 Best Mental Health Design Award
by Christiane Burklein on Tuesday, 24th January 2012 in News
Mens sana in aedificio sano, we might say, altering the famous Latin motto to suit the British architects of Architype’s project for the Sydenham Garden Centre.
The facility is intended to improve the mental health services offered by the Sydenham Garden organisation, with its adjacent therapeutic garden and other creative activities, all in a space which is not only appropriate but environmentally sustainable.
The project is built as a passive home: the ventilation system recovers 90% of the heat from used air, integrating the heating system with solar panels and a heat pump. The building has energy-saving lighting, while the garden is lit up by solar lamps; not even the rainwater is wasted, collected in a well.
This barrier-free construction with an office, kitchen, meeting room, interview rooms and direct access to the garden was built using natural materials which, along with skilful use of natural light, give the building a welcoming feel and infuse it with a sense of tranquillity.
In addition to the garden, the green roof promotes biodiversity in an integrated project for staff and assistants.
The Architype project was presented the "Best Mental Health Design" award in the Building Better Healthcare Awards in November 2011. Its focus on environmental sustainability is strictly linked with the wellness of its users, because our bodies are frequently inside buildings, and if they are healthy, they are better for the mind!
Design: http://www.architype.co.uk Location: Sydenham, South East London, UK
Photographer: Leigh Simpson
Email
About us
Sustainable architecture exists and works.
This is the premise of the Livegreenblog editorial project, which has been exploring energy savings, eco-friendly design and environmentally-aware innovation daily since 2009.