Maidenhead The Landing - HUB Group

Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of existing buildings to make way for a major mixed-use development in the centre of Maidenhead.

Matfen Hall, Northumberland

Luxury destination hotel and golf club with strong environmental credentials and a bold growth vision.

Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

Skelly & Couch worked on a spectacular new home for the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts on a site behind the Stirling Prize-winning Peckham Library in south London.

New Temple Complex

The 559m² New Temple Complex by James Gorst Architects demonstrates an exemplar approach to passive design and long-term sustainability.

 

Situated within an 11.5-hectare estate in the South Downs National Park, the New Temple Complex is a multi-faith space comprising of healing chapels, a library, a multi-use lecture room, a kitchen and a visitor’s entrance foyer; all linked via an internal cloister. The temple holds symbolic elements reflecting the spiritual beliefs of the White Eagle Lodge and it occupies the same sacred spot as its 1970s predecessor. The building is completely framed in timber with clay brickwork encased in chalk lime mortar, all natural materials found in the immediate surroundings, encouraging a connection with the landscape.

The building’s environmental strategy is rooted in passive design principles, prioritising energy efficiency during the initial design phase. This approach includes low fabric heat loss, enhanced daylighting, and natural ventilation, forming the basis for the subsequent integration of low-carbon and renewable technologies.

The building fabric incorporates high-performance glazing exceeding conventional insulation standards, thereby effectively minimising heat loss. The New Temple's shallow, single-storey structure maximises daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Nestled away from noise and pollution, the temple enjoys the benefits of natural ventilation, further aided by high-level actuators strategically placed in the temple's clerestory.

Innovative sustainability features include a sub-floor ventilation system operational in high occupancy areas. This system uses the thermal mass of a labyrinth to provide tempered air in winter and free cooling in summer.

Overcoming challenges posed by the absence of natural gas infrastructure and the availability of only single-phase power, the project successfully procured a small low-carbon ground source heat pump meeting the needs of the entire building. Buried in the landscape, this technology extracts low-temperature energy from the ground, producing higher temperatures that serve underfloor heating throughout the temple. Pre-existing photovoltaic panels were repurposed and relocated to an open area on-site, partially powering the heat pump and providing the building with low-carbon electricity.

The New Temple Complex stands as a timeless space for contemplation and community, seamlessly blending spirituality, simple architecture, and sustainable design. Its harmonious integration with the surroundings embodies both peace and environmental stewardship.

 

In Numbers

On-site energy generation 4,550 kWh/yr
Heating and hot water load 19.73 kWh/m2/yr
Total energy load 42.60 kWh/m2/yr
Carbon emissions (all) 25.9 kgCO2/m2

 

Services

Electrical and Lighting
Heating
Ventilation
Acoustics

 

Awards

Wood Awards – Winners 2023
AJ Architecture Awards – Winners 2023

 

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Old Vic Annex

The two-part project is a redevelopment of back-of-house spaces followed by a new-build six-storey extension to the rear of the world-famous Grade II*-listed theatre in London’s Waterloo.

Playhouse Theatre, London - Kit Kat Club

An exceptional theatre transformation for the multi-award-winning production of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre's fictional Kit Kat Club, all within a rapid timescale. 

Portsoken Pavilion

An outstanding new public space for London run by a community enterprise.

Preston Bus Station

Preston Bus Station, designed originally by BDP and completed in 1969, is a renowned, Grade II-listed Brutalist building, which Skelly & Couch has helped to return to its former glory through modern technologies and sensitive refurbishment techniques.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in north London is the only permanent outdoor theatre in the UK. During summer it opens its doors to an audience of 1,240 every evening. 

Rhodes House, Oxford

Skelly & Couch has completed Stage 4 design at the Grade II*-listed Rhodes House, Oxford, for a new world-class convening hub designed to encourage the global exchange of ideas across all cultures and nationalities.

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