The Guides’ brief was to create a new headquarters, which better accommodated their activities and provided a welcoming environment for visiting groups. The building needed a multi-purpose hall, a kitchen with hatch, a committee room, toilets with a shower and provision for people with disabilities as well as sufficient storage. The building needed to be low maintenance, economic to run and easy to use.
The new building draws upon its context with a profiled steel monopitch roof rising up to the south. Clerestory glazing surrounds the hall and enhances sunlight penetration, increases views of the surrounding trees and reveals the elegant steel roof structure. The upper levels of the smaller rooms are faced in cedar planking. The base of the building is clad in a combination of buff brickwork and steel framed glazing. Cedar brises soleils shield ground level glazing from excessive glare.
An external cantilevered bench serves both as an oversized sill and seating for summer activities. External materials were selected to both give the appearance of a solid base and light clerestory and to minimise time spent by volunteers looking ater the building. Internally the simple, robust palette is combined with a fastidious attention to detail which helps to accentuate senses of light and spaciousness.
Designing for children is a challenge: condescension comes easily. There is nothing twee or juvenile about this building, but it is designed with its users in mind. Broughton’s building is a delight
