Royal Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall, UK.
The development provides 232 new bed spaces for junior doctors and medical students at the University of Plymouth on land adjacent to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.Set within seven 4-storey buildings and arranged as self-contained flats, the design aimed to avoid an institutional feel and encourage a sense of home and ownership for the students.
The materials - predominantly timber-cladding with low-pitched hipped standing seam zinc roof - were selected to complement the woodland surroundings and to offer an identity distinct from that of the hospital and medical school buildings. The blocks are arranged informally within the site and car parking has been limited as far as possible to the site periphery, with a largely vehicle-free central landscaped area.
Environmentally, the scheme is designed to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” rating. The acoustic performance of the scheme was of paramount importance, the client’s acoustic requirements being particularly stringent.
