丨英国伦敦丨Henley Halebrown

architects Henley Halebrown

St. John's Therapy Centre London 2003–2007

The centre brings together, under one roof, community-based therapy services for accident and stroke victims, a mental health unit for drugs and alcohol dependents and two GP practices.

‘In recognising that the LIFT buildings represent that rarest of things, a new typology, the architects have coined an architectural expression that has wide application’ Ellis Woodman, 2007

Detail of the graphic caryatid ST JOHN'S on the main street façade of this public building

The building is synonymous with the neighbourhood, St. John's Hill in South London

First floor plan - the Centre is planned around two courtyard gardens and overlooking two side streets. The design creates a private aspect for clinical rooms. Internal circulation is organised around these courtyards

Entrance hall with open stair leading directly to the first floor reception

Detail of west courtyard garden and entrance hall beyond. These gardens daylight the interior and aid orientation

The concrete frame is exposed throughout to enable natural ventilation. Here, the exposed concrete soffit of the first floor waiting area is painted a warm bright yellow

The building is planned so that the larger mechanically ventilated spaces - gymnasium, waiting areas and meeting rooms - act as an environmental buffer controlling solar gain, road noise and pollution

Long section through first floor physiotherapy gym and waiting space. Rooms are generally 10% larger than NHS standards aiding day-to-day functionality and interchangeability of use making the building more flexible and adaptable

The rear facade, by contrast, reveals the regular pattern of fenestration associated with a cellular building of this kind. The building is planned on a 1.2m module – rooms, windows and cladding are set out to the same module

We sought to offset the ‘civic’ scale of the new building with the warmth and richness of timber. Louvres on the east and west elevations provide solar shading and acoustic baffles

Detail of the rear (north) façade

Offices and staff facilities are located on the upper floors. View from rooftop staff room

Technical

Appointment: 2003

Construction start: 2005

Completion: 2007

Area: 3,529m

2

Budget: £6.7m

Sustainable credentials: CO2 emissions/m² treated floor area: 75.4kgCO2/m²; NEAT Excellent Rating

Form of contract: Design & Build

Client: Wandsworth PCT; Building Better Health; South West London Health Partnership

Contractor: Willmott Dixon

Services Engineer: Whitby Bird

Structural Engineer: Price & Myers

Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon

Landscape Architect: Landscape Projects

Building Control: MLM

Awards

Civic Trust Awards, (Commendation) 2008

Wandsworth Design Award, 2008

AIA/UK Excellence in Design Award, (Commendation) 2007