Elsenham Community Centre

The building layout was conceived as a curvilinear plan that reduced mass and created a sinuous form to encourage the positive integration of landscape and amenity. The plan creates adjacencies from its various functions that establishes clear circulation routes and a spatial diagram that promotes community interaction and enhances the shared experiences of sport, food and democracy.

The building was designed to be low-level and ‘passive’ to respond to the height of the adjacent housing and minimise overshadowing. Active frontages along Southfield Close and the existing car park allow for passive surveillance of the spaces and creates activity throughout the day.

An exposed glulam structural frame is visible throughout the building, with a refined materials palette of timber cladding, timber framed glazing and doors for all elevations. Vaulted green roofs with integrated roof lights and solar cells covers all accommodation. ETFE roofs located over the external access, parking and cafe terrace areas provide diffuse light and shelter when approaching and interacting with the building.

The building is fully accessible across a single floor level with no requirement for lifts or stairs, fully naturally lit and naturally ventilated with generous floor-to-ceiling heights.

Natural materials are used for the interior palette including plywood and FSC accredited hardwoods with minimal use of high carbon content materials such as masonry, gypsum and high VOC content adhesives and sealants. All spaces are designed to be robust and low maintenance, allowing for a simple cleaning and maintenance strategy to be implemented.

A central tall hall space with lower-level wings on either side allows for maximum daylighting throughout the building. The reception area is orientated to provide passive surveillance of the community spaces, the external entrance avenue and vehicular/cycle parking approach.

The layout strategy places all sports/changing facilities and building servicing, ancillary and back-of-house accommodation at the north of the plan, providing direct access to the playing fields whilst maintaining the maximum distance from the adjacent housing to minimise noise and disruption.

Shared council and community facilities are located to the south of the plan to benefit from optimal solar orientation and proximity to the existing car park. The main hall and reception area are directly accessed from the accessible vehicle parking and cycle parking located under an ETFE canopy.

A community run café and kitchen are located to the south of the site, to maximise daylighting and ensure there is no overshadowing to the courtyard. The café provides an acoustic buffer between the café courtyard adjacent housing, offers views towards the playing fields and provides access to/ from the car park.

Slab Design Union acted as lead design consultant and assembled a multi-disciplinary team which included Max Fordham Environmental Engineering, Momentum Structural Engineering, Greene Facade Consulting, MRG Landscape Studio, The Construction Consultants, Sweco Building Control, Trigon Fire, Mode Transport Planning, Engage Planning Consultants, Sustainable Construction Services, MYA Catering Consultants and Motionspot Inclusive Design Consultants.