Botanic Boiler House
Formerly the boiler house for the gardens this elegant 1970’s structure was sitting redundant and in need of a new life.
RKA won an invited design competition for the refurbishment and transformation of the building into a new education space for use by school groups, visiting groups and the University. It also provides a multi use space for staff meetings and board meetings.
A sustainable solution was a key brief driver as well as being a fundamental part of the masterplan we are developing with the Botanic Garden. We reviewed natural breathable insulations, cork render and re-use of existing materials as part of the design.
To minimise the heat build up internally and avoid air conditioning we re-designed the south facing glazed façade to include solid timber panels at high level with glazing moved to a lower level to reduce thermal gain and increase connectivity with the public spaces outside. Using the chimney as a natural stack effect vent provides a low tech cooling solution as well as integrating a periscope that will allow students to look out over St Andrews.
Planning permission granted. Pre site works undergoing
RKA won an invited design competition for the refurbishment and transformation of the building into a new education space for use by school groups, visiting groups and the University. It also provides a multi use space for staff meetings and board meetings.
A sustainable solution was a key brief driver as well as being a fundamental part of the masterplan we are developing with the Botanic Garden. We reviewed natural breathable insulations, cork render and re-use of existing materials as part of the design.
To minimise the heat build up internally and avoid air conditioning we re-designed the south facing glazed façade to include solid timber panels at high level with glazing moved to a lower level to reduce thermal gain and increase connectivity with the public spaces outside. Using the chimney as a natural stack effect vent provides a low tech cooling solution as well as integrating a periscope that will allow students to look out over St Andrews.
Planning permission granted. Pre site works undergoing
