A ten-year dream has finally come to fruition with the official opening of two new eco-build workshops for The Lantern Community, Ringwood, which offers adults with a learning disability the opportunity to contribute in a mutually supportive environment, through meaningful work suited to each individual’s needs, interest and choice.
The Pottery, Weavery, seasonal and flexible craft space workshops, built by Dorset Chartered Builders, Greendale Construction Limited, and designed by CASA architects, have been developed to a very high environmental standard following ‘Passivhaus’ principles; a rigorous energy and comfort standard originally developed in Germany with a focus on very high levels of insulation and exceptional air tightness to reduce energy consumption to a minimum.
Good levels of natural daylight and ventilation is provided through both low-level and high-level windows, the latter of which automatically open to provide a comfortable internal environment all year round. The windows and doors to both buildings create a visual connection with the surrounding landscape, with the spaces primarily lit from above to provide the best conditions for natural lighting.
Where larger elements of glazing have been used, projecting canopies provide both solar shading and external workspaces for both the Seasonal Crafts and Flexible Workshop studio spaces.
The two workshop buildings have been designed to work as a pair, of similar form, with the roofs finished in naturally durable cedar shingles with small elements of copper, both of which will weather well through time. The wall finishes reflect the use of the internal spaces, and in addition to the clay bricks the Pottery and Flexible workshop has a small element of render whilst the Weavery and Seasonal Workshop includes woven cedar laths and naturally durable cedar cladding.
Day Services Manager, Emma Borbely-Bartis, said: “The creation of the two larger workshops means so much to The Lantern Community and the companions who will benefit immensely from them. It will also offer the chance for more people from the local area to be involved with the Lantern Community through the workshops and everything they will offer.
“We also wanted these new spaces to reflect our commitment to the arts and the crafts and to have an opportunity to show to the world the importance of these in both a social context and a therapeutic context. Every individual needs the opportunity to engage in meaningful work and to see the results of their efforts formed in to a beautiful product that is wanted and needed by someone else.”
Greendale Construction Director, Rob Hooker said: “The official opening was fantastic and it is marvellous to see the workshops finished and functioning. We are proud to have been instrumental in the Lantern Community realising their dream and wish them all the best for the future.”