1. Napper, Arup and Newcastle University
Napper teamed up with Arup Newcastle and Newcastle University to design an environment which is fully supportive of the aspirations of Maggie’s. The primary focus of the design was light and its ability to improve the whole of our wellbeing. By combining a few key components, a series of welcoming and relaxing spaces were created which are adaptable to the requirements of the building users.
The judges commented:
Ted Cullinan: “This elegant scheme locates enclosed places in a garden with a great wood trussed roof sailing over both the interior and parts of the garden. I think it is a very elegant scheme.”
Paul Swaddle: “Really strong concept of voronoid-pattern roof, which would provide striking iconic architecture in line with other Maggie’s centres. Excellent to see a depth of science at play to ensure light levels would be adequate, optimising the design through lux studies. A good entry, thoughtfully delivering stability and enclosure - thank you for your submission.”
Karen Verrill: “I loved their floating canopy and the dappled light effect this would produce. I’m also a big fan of the internal courtyard and the colour and texture of the rammed earth wall.”
Karen Verrill, Maggies
2. Martin Flett
This entry created a Maggie’s Centre full of light, with views to every room, to the sky and the landscape beyond. The pinwheel layout creates a social space in the centre, with seating around a fireplace and a dining table, off which rooms radiate.
A timber vaulted roof brings warmth and height to the spaces and thick rammed earth walls provide a sense of warmth and stability within which nooks are created with built-in seats to pause and talk in.
The judges commented:
Ted Cullinan: “A pin-wheel plan can work well for a Maggie’s as this scheme shows. The drawings show a place of calm just as promised on the title.”
“One of the most resolved and realistic of the proposals. Strong pinwheel layout so central space doesn’t feel like a bottleneck, and ideal selection of rammed earth and timber roof materials – excellent visuals and great to see digital-model entries. Thank you for your submission.”
Paul Swaddle, NBS
3. Holt Architecture
For many, particularly in times of crisis and reflection, the garden is where solace can be found at home. With this in mind, this design reimagined the building as a garden in itself.
People drawn together around a camp-fire to talk, to comfort one another and to rekindle their love of nature were the thoughts behind the design intent of this centre.
The judges commented:
Paul Swaddle: “Strong concept of camp-fire conversation, surrounded by vegetation as rich as a botanical winter garden. Scientific logic to wayfinding and programme, the plan submission is a complex graphical textbook diagram that warrants multiple views, but clearly articulates the vision for an organic sanctuary, re-imagining the Maggie’s Centre primarily as an inhabited garden. The design intelligently responds to flexible space requirements with shared, transitional areas and ‘clearings’ within cocoon-like curtains and natural enclosures of planting, conveyed with evocative renders.”
“In a rectangular garden this building gracefully defines the north boundary and creates individual places within it.”
Ted Cullinan
4. Sanya Polescuk Architects
A walled is the secret garden containing this Maggie’s Centre. A brick garden wall enveloped an abundance of plant-life amongst which sits a collection of interlocking pavilions.
Plants grow well indoors where daylight reigns. The timber framed glazed skin which links the pavilions to the garden also separates them from one another at roof level. Open spaces encourage sharing and the secluded ones reflection.
The judges commented:
Paul Swaddle: “The plan of this secret garden is almost a treasure map, tempting the reader to explore the hidden corners of a potentially oasis-like design. Charming interior graphics showing wood grains and natural materials in multiple-height spaces indicate an understanding of how light would be controlled, and suggesting a peace that would reduce users’ anxiety, among the timber planters packed with herbs, deep overhangs enhancing privacy and framing carefully-orientated views. A few of the submissions were inspired by the healing power of nature, but this is a particularly sensitive, calm response.”
“This is a square walled garden in which sits quite a subtle turf-roofed building whose shaped allows varous connected gardens to exist between the rooms of the building and the surrounding wall.”
Ted Cullinan
5. Connolly Prajs Studio
The building is conceived as an abstract pavilion that can be set within a parkland or urban rooftop environment.
The concept takes the form of cupped hands intended to welcome and support the users safely. The spaces within are free-from volumes, adaptable and flexible for the visitors to create either intimate or open spaces as required.The judges commented:
Ted Cullinan: “This gathering of curved wooden walled places under a uniting semi-domed roof is well illustrated, especially in the perspective on the last page. It shows the real possibility of a uniting roof scheme.”
Paul Swaddle: “Cupped-hands motif is a strong concept, supported by clear right-left plan and the organic, natural forms breaking up large spaces. Aerial roof visual is a great image. Thanks for your submission.”
“I liked the cupped hands concept behind this ambitious design and the curved flow of the building. The overall feeling is calmness.”
Karen Verrill
