Seven years ago Grainge architects designed the FORCE cancer support building on the corner of the RD&E hospital campus in Exeter.
We were then extremely pleased to be asked by Meriel Fishwick, the CEO of the charity, to substantially extend the original building.
This presented our practice with an opportunity to reinforce our original design ethos, carefully extending the building’s three-dimensional organic form.
The site was very constrained both by the space available and by the presence of several mature trees. An early discussion with Exeter City Council Planners confirmed that it be possible to remove tree preservation orders on the site to generate a developable area fronting Barrack Road. The earlier style, including exact details of the larch & Devon-earth coloured rough-cast render envelope, were carefully replicated to create a homogenous enlarged courtyard garden space. The new building works were carried out by the original local building company Hodges & Bridle, who seamlessly joined together the old and the new.
The FORCE Centre remains a peaceful & reflective haven providing an alternative to the hustle & bustle of the main hospital site, appropriate to its purpose of providing cancer support care.
Below are some preview images of the new extension taken at today’s handover, click here to link to the original scheme project page.
