Aston Clinton Community Centre
Overview
Hayward Smart Architects have been involved in many community building projects, including Westbury Village Hall which was awarded the Plaque for Outstanding Design in the AVDC awards 2016. Our reputation in this field led to our appointment for this prestigious project, where the site is adjacent to The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The aim was to create a local facility for the next 50 years to support existing and new community, social and sports facilities within this well used public park in Aston Clinton. The existing building no longer satisfied the needs but we were asked to compare the option of refurbishing and extending with the option to replace with a purpose designed new building. It was clear at an early stage that the new build solution was the only viable option to meet the client’s aspirations.
Other criteria in developing an acceptable design was the need to minimise running costs, to be sustainable and provide an attractive addition to the village.
The Design
The accommodation is made up of 3 distinct areas; the changing and storage facilities for the football teams, the park café, and the multi-function hall and meeting rooms. As a consequence the building form is part influenced by the internal spaces and in part by the siting. There is a 2 storey central hub with inverted butterfly roof, with lean-to wings either side.
The palette of materials proposed reflects the locality and have been chosen to reduce maintenance costs. A soft multi orange/red brick is proposed for the external walls at ground floor, with a light grey powder coated aluminium standing seam roof and dark anthracite grey powder coated aluminium windows and doors. The first floor will have powder coated aluminium panels.
The location of the building was dictated by the limitations of the site and the need for servicing and accessing activities close to the parking. Although the park is large, the outdoor pitches and play areas are already established, based around the existing building.
The entrance is angled towards the drive and drop-off area. A large overhanging canopy roof will provide shelter for prams and buggies. Secure bicycle storage will be incorporated adjacent to the entrance and to the rear of the building in view of the café terrace.
The sense of arrival will be enhanced by the landscaping proposals, combining functional hard paving with soft planting and specimen trees. To the south, facing the park, there will be some strategic tree planting to soften the setting adjacent to the AONB, whilst maintaining the principal views to and from the building. The terrace outside the café will spill out into the park, giving good access to the children’s play areas.
Sustainability
We have a ‘fabric first’ approach to sustainability. Good quality materials with high thermal efficiency with minimal air permeability and good natural ventilation will result in a low energy structure which reducing running costs and will create a building which improves well-being.
Passive solar design will form part of the environmental approach with south facing glazing shaded by the balcony or external brise-soleil, but allowing winter sun to penetrate the building.
Solar PV panels on the roof will provide electricity for heating and hot water.
Photography Credit: David Stewart
