Shortlisted for the Project of the year, the Woodland Trust’s HQ is attractive and sustainable

Woodland Trust, Grantham submitted by Feilden Clegg Bradley

The Woodland Trust’s HQ in Lincolnshire is not just an institutional office workplace; it is a physical representation of the philosophy and cultural values that drive the institution it houses. Uniformly clad in narrow, vertically-laid timber strips, its clean elevations embrace the traditions of rural vernacular and sustainable development that are central to the trust’s work. Its use of concrete “radiators” to add thermal mass to a timber building is a pioneering innovation. The entrance is conceived as a planted courtyard surrounded by wood and the interiors feature earthy colours, slate floors and timber finishes, fixtures and furniture. Spaces are flooded with natural light and defined by a quiet sense of natural intimacy and welcoming enclosure. A tight visual palette of clean lines, simple forms and framed internal vistas confirms the building’s richly resonant yet understated character and completes the allegory with the natural world.

Project team

Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Client: Woodland Trust
Project Manager: Buro Four
Structural Engineer: Atelier One
M&E Engineer: Max Fordham
CDM Consultant: PFB Construction Management Services Ltd
Cost Consultant: Ridge
Landscape Architect: Grant Associates
Contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland

Each day in the lead up to the Building Awards ceremony next month, we will profile one of the finalists in the Project of the Year and Public Building Project of the Year. The winners will be announced as the Building Awards ceremony taking place on April 7. To book a table at the Building Awards visit the web site here.