ARCHITECTURAL firm, Anderson Bell + Christie, has received multiple industry awards in recognition of the innovative and inclusive approach taken to the design of the West Centre for health and social care in Glasgow.
Says a spokesperson: “Awarded for the sustainability and creativity of the project, the Glasgow-based architecture practice has achieved multiple wins in a number of highly respected industry awards. Praised for an intrinsically sensitive approach to the build, the partnership has been presented with The Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA) Award 2011, the Scottish Design Award for Best Health Building 2011 and two Civic Trust 2011 awards for both recognising the best in built environments and Inclusive Design.
“Adding to the raft of industry awards received for the design, the firm was also shortlisted for both the Andrew Doolan ‘Best Building in Scotland’ Award 2010 and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards 2011. In a nod to the quality of the West Centre project, the strict criteria set out for both categories indicated that only the strongest candidates within the industry would be shortlisted for these awards.
“Achieving such widespread praise and national prominence in the recent awards is undoubtedly sound acknowledgment of Anderson Bell + Christie’s position at the forefront of healthcare architectural design in the UK. Specialising in unique and complex projects, the firm liaises with clients and implements design best practices to deliver creative architectural solutions which seamlessly integrate the functionality and meeting the technical brief of the project with the community purpose and environment within which they are set.”
Bruce Brebner from Anderson Bell + Christie is thrilled at receiving such recognition.
“The West Centre project presented us with key challenges which required careful planning and management. Taking a holistic approach, we essentially wanted to deliver both on style and substance – we wanted to design a building which offers an exceptional architectural aesthetic while meeting the needs of every user and adding value to the community within which it has become part of.
“Our focus was to design an accessible, sustainable and user friendly centre and the recognition we have received from industry peers, our client and the community in Govan itself, is testament to the success of the project. I’m delighted to have been part of the West Centre design project team and look forward to future projects which make the most of our expertise in a similar fashion.”
The spokesperson continued: “The West Centre project, to design a combined social care and health centre in Govan, Glasgow, encapsulates each element of the complex brief – providing an environment which offers a multi-functional yet calm and recuperative atmosphere for the users, while adding value to the local community landscape.
“Owing to the complex social issues and financial constraints surrounding the project, Anderson Bell + Christie took an innovative approach to the project to deliver an exceptional result both in terms of user experience, function and design, on budget at the comparatively low cost of £4.1 million.
“Gaining widespread recognition from industry peers, Anderson Bell + Christie displayed a true sensitivity to the unique nature of the West Care project. Sourcing an additional £250,000 funding from the Yorkhill Children’s Foundation to incorporate artistic elements into the project at every level was a highly successful strategy in this design process.”
And the spokesperson went on: “Externally, Artist Tassy Thompson, designed interactive features outside the building while Artist Tim Taylor created a series of interventions within the building’s fabric including miniature figurines attached to the inside of walls to create a mini world peered at through tiny openings in the walls.
“Friendly to children and those in need, the interior fit out, spatial organisation and movement strategy all integrate well to serve its users. In what could have been a run of the mill institutional building, Anderson Bell + Christie steered away from what is commonplace, keeping the building light and airy through the addition of a large central atrium and subtle muted colours, enhancing the internal environment and embracing the context of the community project.
“The inclusive nature of the design from the control of the acoustics to the colours chosen according to their perceived effects on autistic conditions and visual impairments, highlights the exceptional quality, creativity and thoughtful project management process implemented by the team.
“Sustainably designed to offer maximum accessibility for the needs of its diverse user profile and the wider community, the West Care Centre allows six disabled car parking spaces and was specifically designed to maximise access via numerous means of local public transport. In a similar fashion, Anderson Bell + Christie retained the focus of sustainability by ensuring an energy efficient design which simultaneously enhanced the local urban landscape.
“As one of the leading Scottish Architect firms, Anderson Bell + Christie has received deserved recognition for its innovative and creative approach to the West Centre in Govan, Glasgow which resulted in a community-focused building which not only serves its highly sensitive purpose but also adds value to the local urban landscape offering a focal point of exceptional architectural design.”
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