Longridge | marlow

outdoor activity centre

Project Description

Carbon cutting, tree planting, energy storing, health improving, boundary pushing, planet saving visitor accommodation for the younger generation facing a climate emergency.

We have been commissioned by an Adventure Learning Charity to develop a 10 year masterplan for their Longridge site on the banks of the Thames near Marlow.

Phase 1 of the masterplan comprises new visitor accommodation, a new reception and activity centre.  The scheme has three wings of accommodation which forge an interesting external space at the heart of the plan.  As an outdoor activity centre the spaces created between the buildings are as important as the buildings themselves.

Getting active and having fun are the drivers for young people coming to stay at Longridge on residential trips.  Our response is to create a playful building with an external social hub at its heart – a space for sharing stories in the evening or eating your lunch.  We also wanted the building itself to be a ‘Learning Tool.’  In 2019 RIBA declared a climate emergency, for the younger generation using this new facility this is the biggest issue they will have to face.  The goal is to make an exemplary sustainable building;

-  A beautiful building which is fit for purpose should ensure it is here for the long term a sustainable goal in itself

-   The building is designed to be carbon neutral at completion.  Constructed from timber with bolted connections will ensure low embodied carbon.  The aim is to minimise the use of plastic, glues and cement.

-   ‘Operational Carbon’ will be zero as all energy requirements will be generated from renewable sources, a combination of solar panels and ground source heat pumps.

The charity are currently fundraising for the build.