Neal's Yard Remedies, Dorset, UK

While working at FCB Studios Ben helped develop this project from concept and was responsible for the detailed design. This building provides a new headquarters (offices) and manufacturing facilities gathered around a central social space where all those who work in the building meet to share meals.

The design was developed through close discussion with the client, to a fixed budget, as part of a wider business plan for moving the organisation out of London. This process has created a building which is unique and distinctive and has the potential to achieve a zero carbon footprint. It demonstrates that timber framing technology is an appropriate and cost effective solution for industrial buildings. The use of timber structurally insulated panels (SIPS) increased the speed of on-site construction and allowed us to reduce air leakage to one fifth of the statutory requirement.

The building, sitting in a productive landscape, creates a humane working environment with a social heart which provides visible evidence of the Neal's Yard Remedies' strong social and environmental agenda.
By setting clear goals and building a team of construction professionals, including the contractor, around those ambitions we were able to deliver an interesting, innovative and exemplary project on time and to a tight budget of £800 sq. m.

AWARDS:
Civic Trust Awards 2007