- Project
- Parklands, Chertsey
- Type
- HQ Office
- Status
- Planning Approved 2010
- Client
The building form has evolved from a detailed consideration of the site constraints and opportunities and the requirement for modern, efficient and sustainable office development that reflects the guidelines in the British Council for Offices Guide to Specification 2009. The design approach results in a compact and contemporary 3 storey plus penthouse U-shaped building that is located on the site of the existing 3 storey pitched roofed office building and is orientated with the principle elevations facing north and south towards the site entrance and lake respectively. The slope of the site enables the east elevation to be partly recessed into the slope so that from this direction the building is viewed as 2 storey plus penthouse.
The plan comprises 15m deep office floor plates and is organised with a central main core fronting the main entrance and its triple height atrium and secondary stairs are located on the flank elevations. This arrangement provides maximum flexibility to accommodate occupier requirements. Externally the form is articulated with the accommodation at ground and penthouse levels set back well back to emphasise the 2 storey form that accommodates levels 1 and 2.
The façade treatment reflects the building’s orientation and setting, with the main north and south elevations being predominately glazed, with photovoltaic (PV) brise soleil shading on the south sides and more solid elevations on the east and west elevations with glazing set back behind slatted screens to protect from unwanted solar gain from the low level sun. External materials are selected to be attractive and durable and include high performance glazing, terracotta rainscreen cladding and slatted shading and PV brise soleil. The penthouse is fully glazed below a projecting flat roof with integral PV’s to provide shading and will appear as a transparent rooftop pavilion, with extensive views over the landscaped park.