Health Centre, Herstmonceux, East Sussex

We were appointed to produce construction drawings in April 2011, after a four year planning and health authority funding phase. This new Health Centre building for the local general practice takes sustainable design very seriously in all its facets. The structure comprises unfinished round softwood logs for the roof, that span onto loading bearing masonry walls. The upper floors are also of softwood. The foundations are of mass concrete using low embodied CO2 cements and recycled aggregate.

The aim is to achieve Passivhaus standard for the development, which has required a careful approach to the structural design. The "Thermal Bridge Free" design concept required by Passivhaus means that conventional vernacular detailing such as masonry walls just sitting on concrete foundations cannot be used. Instead walls bear on ground slabs that then sit on load bearing insulation.

The external walls are structured in softwood timber studwork clad in Hemcrete, a lime mortar based render system using hemp fibre aggregate, allowing the building to 'breathe' and to have very low total CO2 emissions.

The project starts on site in the autumn, and will be one of the most innovative health centre buildings in the country.

Architect Dil Green Architects