Knowle West Media Centre, BristolThe project is a community-led initiative with a mission to provide young people opportunities for participation in media and arts. The Archimedia Project is the process by which Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) involves local people in the build of a new media centre. The local community, living in a disadvantaged area of the South West, perceive the project to be more than just a building – it’s about community regeneration. It was the young people who originally conceived the scheme, and they were involved in every step of the planning and construction process. Ridge was interviewed as part of Bristol City Council’s Approval list and appointed as the client was impressed by our attitude and approach (with early up-front cost advice) and by our previous work on the Savill Garden Visitor Centre. As the build element of the project is grant funded, the scheme has been designed with long-term economic sustainability. The new 2-storey fully sustainable building will comprise numerous media rooms, a presentation theatre, a dark room with editing suites, office space, an ‘atrium’ cafeteria and presentation space. The Glulam timber frame construction will have straw bale walls with external rendering. The roof design has a central valley profile, and covered with single-ply membrane, will harvest rainwater to be recycled through a filtration system to the toilets. The ventilation is to be natural with Velux roof lights providing natural daylight and ventilation; Brise Soleil will be used to reduce solar gain, meanwhile the building will have photovoltaic cells, a solar hot water installation, and the appropriateness of a bio-mass fuel boiler is currently being investigated. Set in an urban residential area, on a typical streetscape of 1950’s semi-detached houses, it is intended that the deliberately striking design of the Media Centre will visually dominate the neighbourhood, capturing local interest and respect with its strong presence and character. |
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