Arkelston Childrens' Home

A two storey residential childcare home located at Arkleston, Paisley for Renfrewshire Council Social Work Services. The design of this new facility sought to fulfil requirements set out by Social Work primarily to create a building that closely reflects that of a large, domestic, family dwelling. Social Work would seek to distance any reflection of an Institution. In addition, the inclusion of design and technology features, to reduce the carbon footprint of the new development, highlighted the Council’s intention to seek the highest possible standards in relation to sustainable development and energy efficiency. The new build development provides facilities exclusively for the use of Renfrewshire Council Social Work Services. Accommodation is arranged as a two storey 6-bedroom dwelling house, each bedroom having associated en-suite. Communal living, dining, kitchen and recreational facilities form part of the proposals. In addition, there is a large garden area incorporating hard and soft landscape features and providing privacy and noise-screening for residents, on all boundaries. The elevations are designed with feature stone-cladding on the ground floor, emphasising components and grouping openings on all of the elevations. On the upper floor, elevation design reflects the same concept in a slightly more elegant manner by utilising roll cap zinc cladding panels to group components. This helps to provide a clear graduation to the building elevations. Use of smooth render between and around both natural stone and zinc provides a bold contrast and gives visual sharpness.