Our aim must be to obviate waste, increase efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote construction methodologies that support both people and the environment..
We turned the section of the building, so it’s quite introspective…instead of looking out, or typically out, to the surrounding environment, which is compromised.’ Additionally, he comments that the removal of the ‘domesticity’ of these windows aids with providing the building’s external aesthetic that ‘higher, almost iconic value,’ it manages to achieve.. It’s all part of Circle’s larger focus on personal experience, which Highton also discusses with respect to the patient bedrooms.These he describes as being ‘of a very good size...not too big… So they’re not cold and very clinical,’ he says, before highlighting that because the patients all have their own individual rooms, ‘there is much more space.’ Each in-patient room also contains a couch able to double up as a bed for guests if they want it overnight.
It’s all been well considered, in other words, with practicality and comfort being the priorities..This ongoing sense of space, light and comfort lend themselves to what is undeniably a positive hospital experience for staff, with the feeling manifesting in a variety of ways.. Sharon Matchey, Circle’s Admin Lead, works alongside Adam Chivers on the admin floor and comments on the department’s open plan structure, ‘If you’re having a bad day the team lift you,’ she says.‘We all keep an eye on each other.’.
‘It’s a bit of a team spirit, really,’ confirms Adam.. Paul Highton is located nearby with other key members of the Circle Team, including the Head of Operations and the Hospital Director.‘What I really like is that there’s no segregation.’ he says.
It allows people to interact with each other… Anybody can come in and just have that conversation with us.’.
In other words, at Circle Reading, there is the dual benefit of both a sense of community, as well as a sense of peacefulness.After this, we evaluate the material type.
Although we do look at traditional building materials, like steel and concrete, it’s also important to evaluate how specifications might be changed and adapted for newer product options, such as low-carbon concrete.Future proofing is a consideration, because when new materials and improvements in the industry arise, we want to be able to make best use of them without having to substantially change designs.
We don’t want to have to rearrange all of our architecture, just because there's a new product available.We can overcome this issue by designing flexible buildings, offering future use suitability to a number of different architectural typologies..
(Editor: Compact Locks)