• Wyggeston Hospital Hub & Cottages
Wyggeston Hospital

Originally founded as an Almshouse Charity in 1513 by William Wyggeston, a former MP and mayor of Leicester, Wyggestons Hospital has been successfully providing sheltered housing and housing related support and care services for vulnerable older people in Leicester for over 500 years. Their brief was to provide a new administrative and entertainment HUB and additional accommodation to the existing extra-care accommodation site at Wyggestons Hospital whilst also providing a newly landscaped scheme for residents to enjoy.

 

The project was an excellent example of collaborative practice with the client, through their Looking Ahead group, providing regular feedback and support to the design team and contractors throughout the life of the project. This ensured that the needs of residents were kept firmly at the forefront at all times. Residents were kept up to date throughout the construction process through weekly notice boards and drone images and videos were also taken for residents to track progress.

 

It was paramount to ensure that the new HUB and Cottages were linked to the existing site and not set as their own community. External materials were carefully selected and agreed between Corporate Architecture, Client, Local Planning Authority and Conservation Officer to ensure a modern scheme could be produced in a traditional setting. Although there are new additions to the site, they are not incongruous as care has been taken to echo the past aesthetics in both style and materials such as the green panelling used to reflect the chapel. The variety of the materials used have also been chosen to breakdown the scale and massing of the building and to project a domestic scale despite the size of the development.

 

The cottages and apartments are both oversized from the accepted norm in order to provide residents with supportive features such as adequate storage and en-suite bathrooms and to future proof against a change in physical needs.

 

The Hub gives a clear focal point to the site. Whilst it has an imposing appearance, it is not extravagant. Its value is in its service to the residents who want to access its many facilities and it demonstrates the team’s commitment to value for money. It also contains a fully serviceable commercial kitchen and large patio area which offer the charity the opportunity to host large scale fundraising or celebration activities in the heart of the Wyggestons community. The Hub also contains a history of the site, its timeline and links to the Duchy of Lancaster which helps to give a sense of context to residents and their place in the story of Wyggeston.

 

The bungalows have derived many of their features from the almshouse aesthetic and, despite being a modern addition are consistent in style with the site as a whole. The green blocks used echo the earlier buildings. The flow and feel of the original site is retained as it was important throughout that new residents feel included and could easily identify with their new community.

 

Rather than an underground crate SuDS system, an attenuation pond has been placed at the heart of the site, as a focal point for the residents, staff and wildlife. An attractive and interesting option performs a necessary function whilst offering something of interest for residents.

 

The new ground floor of the Hub is now fully occupied and the café is in daily use. All Apartments and Cottages are occupied. Art classes and other social activities are conducted regularly and well attended. The feel of community and sense of belonging grows continually.

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