Long House

Brief description

Opened to staff and patients in September 2015, The Long House delivered by Mercury Construction provides supportive care to patients and their families coping with the impact of life limiting illnesses.

This outstanding and sustainable facility, commissioned by North Devon Hospice was funded through the generosity of the local community.

In response, the project team designed a well-lit building using natural daylight and engineered to allow user control of ventilation whilst ensuring good energy performance with low running costs. Automatic low energy high efficiency lighting was utilised in all areas including daylight saving and occupancy sensors to provide energy savings.

The location of the site also offered an opportunity to install photovoltaic (PV) panels which provides income via the Feed in Tariff and also offers a reduction in energy being used from the incoming electricity supply.

An air source heat pump was installed as the primary heat source for the building in addition to the wood burning stove in the social space which provides a homely feel.

Materials were chosen from a limited palette of natural materials carefully selected to ensure the building remains sustainable whilst providing a holistic natural human environment. Straw bales have been used as a sustainable method for insulating the building which has been finished in a lime render.

This project was a finalist in the LABC Building Excellence Awards for the  Best Public Service Building and was nominated for the RICS Awards in the Community Benefit Category. It was later entered into the South West Master Builders Awards for Commercial Project which Mercury Construction went on to win.