Fairmuir Road, Balhousie Headquarters.
Stae of the art care facility and new HQ premises for Balhousie Care Group.
Project – Specialist care facility with care provider HQ
Client – Balhousie Care Group Ltd..
Under Construction.
Contract Value - circa £5.5m
Description -
We were approached by one of our longstanding clients, Balhousie Care Group Ltd, to look at the feasibility of creating a new state-of-the-art care facility on a site they already owned in Dundee. They were also keen to explore the option of moving their existing headquarters from Perth, into the area and combining this function with the new flagship care facility.
We were already aware of the site, which was an empty and overgrown area of scrubland near adjacent to Fairmuir Road, having recently completed a commercial pharmacy at the Eastern corner.
More below
Project – Specialist care facility with care provider HQ
Client – Balhousie Care Group Ltd..
Under Construction.
Contract Value - circa £5.5m
Description -
We were approached by one of our longstanding clients, Balhousie Care Group Ltd, to look at the feasibility of creating a new state-of-the-art care facility on a site they already owned in Dundee. They were also keen to explore the option of moving their existing headquarters from Perth, into the area and combining this function with the new flagship care facility.
We were already aware of the site, which was an empty and overgrown area of scrubland near adjacent to Fairmuir Road, having recently completed a commercial pharmacy at the Eastern corner.
The plot offered excellent potential to site a state-of-the-art care facility, with the relatively quiet residential nature of Fairmuir Road and the views and proximity to Fairmuir Park being of great advantage as a leisure and recreation amenity for residents. The site was also ideal strategically from the Balhousie Care Group’s perspective, being located in close proximity to public transport links – enabling ease of commuting for local staff and residents.
After exploring design options for what was a tricky, narrow and sloping site, we based our proposals around 2 wedge shaped, sheltered courtyard gardens. The rest of the functions were all planned around this ‘semi-internal’ garden, in order to provide the residents with a private, comfortable and attractive green space for daily use. Our aim was to provide a safe and secure mini parks that would encourage informal social interaction between residents and instil an atmosphere of tranquillity. Resident’s lounges were planned at strategic points to directly overlook the planted gardens, whilst the majority of the activity spaces were positioned so as to be able to spill out into the internal courtyard space. Complementary therapy rooms and a workshop were also integral to the proposals.
Outgrowing their existing office HQ, Balhousie were keen to integrate a new and contemporary flexible working space into the proposals that would become their management base. At the outset, we were keen to integrate this function into the Fairmuir Road elevation, to robustly reinstate the streetscape and provide views for workers to Fairmuir Park. We carefully articulated the office element at the top floor to overhang the levels below, providing a sheltered colonnade style walkway with a civic presence. Internally the offices were planned around a large glazed stairwell ‘link’ dividing the separate functions, with a series of open plan working zones and cellular meeting rooms positioned to overlook Fairmuir Road. We were able establish an efficient m2 ratio for staff working spaces, with a number of functions planned for each area.
Architecturally, the aim for us was to develop a modern and contextually respectful development that sought to both integrate within the existing area and robustly reinstate the current void in the Fairmuir streetscape – this was something that would also benefit the existing houses opposite.
We have now been awarded full Planning Permission for the proposals and are in the process of working with the client to attain the necessary statutory consents and obtain Building Warrant for the proposals.