Phoenix Community Centre, Aberdeen

Offering a fresh approach to Newton Dee’s village green, required a process that put the cultural life first, to create a new ‘heart space’ for the community. In numerous artistic workshops a vibrant picture emerged, that transcribed older concepts of the traditional threefold Camphill hall into the masterplan, to create a wider context between the Chapel, the village green and the new community centre with a theatre.

The building is a reflection of the social processes, it is not just an attractive community centre, but also a piece of social art. It epitomises the essence of the Camphill spirit, which understands architecture as a community building impulse. Addressing the human need for artistic expression in the spiritual, social and practical life is a fundamental part of the Camphill ethos.

The project was developed over seven years and was completed in collaboration with Camphill Architects. It was awarded the Aberdeen Civic Award for Architecture in 2012.

Lantern Community Hall, Ringwood

It is the ethos of Camphill communities to foster a rich and diverse cultural life as part of everyone’s personal growths and development. Centres provide environments that reflect care the commitment to this vision. At the Lantern Community it is envisaged to create a new cultural venue that compliments the existing café and public social space.

The hall will be a ‘graceful holding space for the social, cultural and spiritual life’. This picture resonates well with the mature woodland setting and the design is sensitive to an inner attitude of peace, reverence and celebration, emphasising beauty, harmony and balance. The proposal includes a water feature to the west and a series of landscaped patios connecting the forest memorial garden.

The community actively worked with the concept of ‘four-foldness’, as expressed in the four seasons, the four classical elements, four directions, etc. to achieve a sense of wholeness for the cultural calendar of the year and the architecture.

Consensus design workshop for nature integration

Beannacher Community Hall, Aberdeen

Ecology and sensitive landscape integration into the gently undulating parkland was key to the project’s success. The emphasis is on ‘gentle flow’ for activities, aesthetics and context relationships.

The hall was one of the first straw bale buildings with a loadbearing timber laminate frame in Aberdeen, complemented by a sedum roof. Clay and lime renders add to the rustic character and provide a playful ambience for social gatherings, games and fun time together.

Although unusual in Scotland, the straw bale construction has stood the test of time and continues to be a much-appreciated venue.