We were commissioned by a firm of Ecologists to design their new headquarters, including extensive educational facilities, on a steeply sloping meadow overlooking Rutland Water. The ambitious brief sought to develop an off-grid, carbon-positive complex that would become a National School of Ecology and set new standards for sustainable development.

We developed two approaches for the site that explored different relationships to the steep topography and to the sensitive planning context. 

In the Earth, sought to integrate the building within the sloping site to minimise its impact on the landscape. The main spaces of the brief (the entrance, classroom, offices, meeting and staff rooms) are accommodated in distinct volumes, linked by a glazed circulation space. Ancillary spaces such as plant, storage and toilets are dug into the sloping site which allows the landscape to continue over the roofs helping to embed the building within the landscape. The main volumes would be formed from rammed earth so that it appears hewn from the landscape whilst providing a beautiful yet muted facade treatment. 

On the Earth looks to touch the site lightly in the manner of a pier dipping its toes into the water. The idea was to create a light frame structure that allows visitors to move through all levels of the site with a dramatic outdoor teaching room to the top, overlooking Rutland Water. The building is a timber frame within which sit the classroom, offices, meeting and staff rooms with ancillary accommodation sitting closest to the slope ensuring the main spaces have the best views of the landscape. While the building is long, accentuating the steep sloping site, it appears small when viewed across Rutland Water as the main elevation is minimised to the most sensitive viewpoints.