Case study
Hill Close Centre, Hill Close Gardens, Warwick
Action 21 Energy Group was asked to advise on sustainability issues generally in connection with the Hill Close Centre. The centre provides refreshments and amenities for visitors to the newly restored Hill Close Gardens. By providing schools with all the resources they need for successful student visits it is vital to the delivery of the Hill Close Gardens Education Strategy. It is also a fully equipped community venue, available to hire for meetings, concerts and social events.
The Hill Close Centre under construction in May 2006
The garden consists of a series of plots laid out during the second half of the nineteenth century. These Victorian pleasure gardens have now being restored after a considerable period of neglect.
The building, of ingenious contemporary design, is being constructed as a green building. The development of this sustainable building has been the vision of architects Design Engine and engineering consultant, Dr. Joel Callow. The centre has been designed as an exemplar of sustainability achieving a CO2 reduction better than the government’s 60% target for 2050, and it features
- High levels of insulation in the wall made of recycled newspaper
- Airtight construction
- Ventilation heat recovery
- Floor slab with high heat capacity ensuring stable temperatures day and night
- Heat pump which draws warmth from the garden in front of the building to provide underfloor heating
- Green roof
- A wind turbine generating electricity on site
- High levels of natural light with artificial lighting controlled by occupant sensors
Detail of underfloor heating prior to casting of concrete floor slab which will be the thermal store for the building
In addition to all the visitor information for the gardens the centre will have information on ecology, sustainable lifestyle choices and sustainable construction - the building itself providing a superb example. Click for additional information on this case study
In 2005 Chris Begg of Hill Close Gardens Trust, who leads the project, approached Action 21 to provide sustainability advice to ensure that the building’s design was as green as it could be. As well as providing this advice, the Energy Group has, in conjunction with Encraft, continued to have an input into the project advising the Trust on wind turbines and funding for low carbon technology.
When the Gardens re-open to the public on Easter Saturday 2007, the Hill Close Centre will be well worth a visit in its own right. Your attention will be drawn to a terracotta wall on entry to the gardens. This however, is a garden wall with a difference, being the northwest side of a three sided building with a flat roof. The other two sides of the building are glazed and offer views of the garden. When viewed from further up the hillside the green roof enables, what is quite a sizeable building, to merge with the garden landscape. For up to date information on opening times see the Hill close Gardens website.
View of garden and a summerhouse prior to restoration
Also the individual garden plots have been restored to their original nineteenth century layout with planting appropriate to the period. The surviving summerhouses have being restored as individual gems set in these garden plots complete with hedging and formal layout. The paths provide improved access for everyone to enjoy exploring one of the country’s surviving Victorian pleasure gardens.
The gardens and Hill Close Centre are located near the Warwick Racecourse - see Hill Close Gardens website for details.
Team
Client: Hill Close Gardens Trust
Hill Close Centre
Architect: Design Engine
Engineer: Gifford
Contractor: R Pittaway Ltd
Landscaping
Landscape architects: Plincke Landscape
Contractor: Michael Twite Landscapes
Summerhouses
Conservation architect: Rodney Melville and Partners
Engineer: SFK Consulting
Contractor: Linford-Bridgeman Ltd