An independent residential mental health facility, which houses 16 residents with long-term mental health illnesses, has recently been completed in Bedwas South Wales.
The project was born out of a partnership between OMI Architects and Grwp Gwalia – a leading not-for-profit provider in social housing and care support services – and has been designed to provide an ultra modern facility, which is sympathetic to the local residential habitation.
As one might expect of the architecture of southern Wales, the facility has been designed to have a pale exterior reminiscent of the local sandstone. To achieve this balance the architect specified Wienerberger’s Anglesey Weathered Buff brick, as its patina and worn nature generate harmony with the local area.
The selected brick reinforces the tactile nature of the whole project, particularly in the courtyard. The buff tones provide a lightness that is not overbearing but is welcoming and attractive. Further detailing to the brick façade is provided by the incorporation of a number of soldier course bands detailed at high level and the introduction of deep pre cast stone cills to the punched holed windows.
The Anglesey Weathered Buff, part of Wienerberger’s Terca brick range, is a 65mm machine made clay brick which, due to the inherent properties of clay, carries a range of benefits. A key benefit of using clay is the colour retentive nature of the material - by employing clay bricks the exterior’s colour will last far beyond the lifespan of the facility cementing the overall aesthetic of the building for many years to come.
By ensuring the facility sits within the local community, as opposed to contrasting with it, the architects have met a primary objective that not only means the building looks appealing to those on the outside but meets the highest therapeutic standards, which create an environment that is secluded up to the point of comfort - but no further.
OMI Architects commented: ‘We are delighted with the building. When one considers the demands placed on creating a link between a project such as this and its surroundings and the role it has to play in the recovery of its residents, the scale of the project soon becomes apparent. The use of Wienerberger’s Anglesey Weathered Buff – a visually soft, handcrafted stock brick - facilitates the integration of the building’s contemporary design into its vernacular context. This integration was a key consideration for us with respect to the needs of the residents and the wider community.’
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