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( Last Updated: 09-11-2011 )
Midas Construction and architects David Wilson Partnership have now handed over ‘Little Harbour', Children's Hospice South West's third and final children's hospice in the South West region, located in St Austell, Cornwall.
This is the third hospice which has been created and will serve children and families located within Cornwall and Plymouth who previously had to travel to either North Devon or Bristol.
The innovative design has been delivered on time and budget to the delight of the staff at Little Harbour. Tamsin Lewis, the new head of care at the hospice said: "The building is truly wonderful and real credit to the architectural design team and contractors who have created a wonderful space in which to work and welcome families".
The building, which draws on the nautical, agricultural and mining heritage of the region, utilises locally quarried granite and building forms of bridges, towers and collection of buildings which look like they have developed over time. The layout reduces corridors and removes the institutional feel often associated with healthcare provisions.
Midas construction headed up the project from their Indian Queens office and provided a key role in delivering a successful project. Project manager Richard Anderson said: "It has been a privilege to work on a landmark building which has such an important role to play in the South West. Midas were also delighted to have helped the charity by undertaking a wide range of fund-raising events throughout the construction phase."
Architect Jim Gardner, partner at David Wilson Partnership, explained "The project has been a wonderful opportunity to work with a regional client who expects and understand the benefits to them and users of high quality design.
"The design presented many challenges not least of all how to make use of the wonderful sea views available at high level and bring the building down to a scale which felt homely to children and families and place where they could really relax. Within the care areas corridors have been eliminated by the use of a clever radial design".
Externally the building has been set into the landscape to minimize the visualize impact of what could have been a large development. Peter leaver, landscape partner at DWP said " From the early stages we worked as a combined team to develop the internal layouts, site and landscaping to ensure an integrated design. This is an approach which is key to our practice and enables us to deliver designs which sit well with the landscape no matter how difficult the site".
The completed project is now being commissioned and showcased to supporters and funders and is due to accept its first families for Christmas.
Emma Lloyd, head of fundraising for Little Harbour
"The fundraising efforts to reach the £5 million target culminated this September as we were proudly handed this beautiful, practical, welcoming building, but the hard work doesn't stop here. Our fundraising continues as we begin to fit out and furnish Little Harbour with the specialist equipment and home comforts that our families will require during their stays, and begin to raise funds to sustain our service. Each and every year, sadly there will continue to be life-limited children and families who will need to use Little Harbour. The need for the very special care we will offer at Little Harbour will never go away, and so neither will we, but we need the continued help of the local community to achieve this"
To find out how you can help us continue to fundraise for Children's Hospice South West's Little Harbour please give us a call on 01726 871800
Photo: From left to right: Jim Gardner, Partner and Project Architect, David Wilson Partnership; Bernadette Thoreau, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser, CHSW; Richard Anderson, Project Manager, Midas Construction Ltd