The Broadwood Manor Development

The original Broadwood Manor was a modest red-brick farmhouse built in 1642. But after it was turned over to private ownership in 1865, the owners made the decision to begin the extension project. Despite being on private property, the structure has great architectural merit and is significant to the community. As a result, Happy Homes, a respectable rival in the market in the 1960s, made the decision to buy the manor and begin the building process. They had to abandon their original plan to completely demolish the original structure in order to consider using it for secondary purposes. The current paper attempts to find out how the existing structure of the Broadwood Manor can contribute to the development plans, and what issues should be mitigated in order to make sure that the original structure is used with minimal demolition or refurbishment. Moreover, it will be also viable to figure out what strategies can be implemented in order to enhance the building’s environmental performance so that not only sustainability is maintained but also the entire project becomes a successful one.

Principles of Adaptation

As the Happy Homes is trying to adapt Broadwood Manor, a heritage property to the extra care home, there are several basic principles which should be critically considered by the developers. Furthermore, there are some specific aspects or dimensions which should be exclusively and critically considered while developing or adapting a historically important (locally or globally) building (Davies 2011, p. 45). The first principle is to make sure that the designed project and planned strategies are cost-effective (Historic England 2017, p. 45). In this context, the developers should keep in mind that the complete demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of the new ones will cost a significant amount of money which should also be matched with the cultural values that are associated with the manor. Thus, the demolition of the original structure at the large scale will be costly from both financial and cultural perspectives. However, as the Happy Homes has decided to partly demolish some structures, they have addressed this issue very well.

Secondly, the adaptation of a heritage property to the new project needs to consider the importance of the place from the local context (Historic England 2008, p. 67). Although the Broadwood Manor is not officially listed as the heritage property, it is of great importance from the architectural and local-culture angles. Therefore, the developers should remember that the adaptation of the building should be done in such a manner that the Broadwood Manor does not lose its importance and at the same time, the individuals accomplish what they wish to achieve. In this regard, the existing structures and buildings should be thoroughly reviewed, and their designs should be understood. As a result, the designers can determine the best possible means to utilize the building. Thirdly, the adaptation of the heritage building is immensely vital exclusively from architectural viewpoints (English Heritage 2011, p. 56). Therefore, the developers and designers associated with the current project should ensure that the architectural exclusiveness, critical features, and uniqueness of the original property remain intact as much as possible. It can be done through making sure that the new designs of the planned project resemble the actual designs as much as possible. Finally, while adapting the property, the project leaders should guarantee that the environmental sustainability of the entire building and its surrounding properties are enhanced (Douglas 2006, p. 67). It will help in increasing the viability of the project as well as making sure that the new construction is environmentally sustainable.

Potential Issues and Advantages regarding Sustainability

There are several issues which should be critically considered while taking into account the aspect of adapting the heritage property. They are actually or closely associated with the principles of adaptation. As a result, the first issue deals with the cost-effectiveness of the designing and development of the project (Bragança, Mateus, and Koukkari 2010, p. 2010). The second potential step is concerned with the permission from appropriate authorities and formulation of the proper strategies in line with the specified regulations (Iwaro and Mwasha 2013, p. 153). These implications should be strictly followed so that the development project easily receives the required permissions from the diverse concerned authorities. It will also provide a hassle-free work; otherwise, it will take a lengthy duration for the project to be completed. The third issue is to protect the cultural and local significance of the selected property even after the completion of the development project (Ragheb, El-Shimy, and Ragheb 2016, p. 778). Whereas the development project refurnishes most of the parts of the existing structure, the culturally identified importance from local as well as global point of view should remain intact without any compromise (Poveda and Young 2015, p. 10). In addition, it is the challenge for the developers to formulate the proper plan and design in which the existing construction patterns of the Broadwood Manor will be altered or re-structured while maintaining its historical significance. The same thing applies to the aspect of architectural importance and uniqueness. Being the historical property, the Broadwood Manor has several unique features. Furthermore, the current scenario of the development and re-designing is immensely emphasizing the aspect of environmental sustainability (Douglas 2006, p. 67). In this context, it will be pretty much challenging and complex for the developers to make sure that the materials used in the project contribute to environmental sustainability. They should find out if the existing materials can be properly replaced by the new materials (environmentally sustainable ones) while maintaining the original grandeur and essence (Douglas 2006, p. 56).

It has been found that the construction industry hugely contributes to the aspect of environmental pollution (Sobotka and Rolak 2009, p. 593). The resources and materials used in the construction or building development hugely pollute to the environmental scenario. In this context, various organizations and experts have recommended that the developers or designers need to formulate appropriate strategies and determine proper actions so that environmental sustainability can be thoroughly maintained particularly in the case of developing or extending a heritage property (McCullagh 2013, p. 56). Due to such demands and consensus, the practitioners or professionals associated with the construction industry have started to re-think their strategies in order to make their projects environmentally sustainable. Modelers, creators, specialists, and other entities associated with the building procedure have an extraordinary chance to diminish natural effect through the use of sustainability goals at the outline improvement phase of a building venture (Doggett 2012, p. 5). While current supportability activities, procedures, and procedures concentrate on more extensive worldwide goals and key targets, they are perceptibly frail in tending to miniaturized scale level (extend particular level) incorporated basic leadership (Douglas 2006, p. 64). Therefore, the developers associated with the current project need to address this issue specifically. The objectives related to the micro-level activities regarding the Broadwood Manor development should be properly transformed into actual actions so that appropriate decisions can be made. In this context, adaptation strategies play a huge role in ensuring environmental sustainability (Bojnec and Paier 2001, p. 353). As the existing structure and design of the Broadwood Manor are expected to be properly adapted as per the formulated plans, it is likely that the project will require a minimal amount of new construction works as it will focus on re-developing the original structure as much as possible. Therefore, the use of harmful resources and materials will be limited. Furthermore, the adaptation policies also encourage the utilization of such materials that cause minimal harm to the environment. Thus, this Broadwood Manor project would also assure the most potential environmental sustainability. In this regard, the designers and developers should thoroughly review the adaptation policies confirmed by several state bodies and non-state organizations so that they can understand the aspects to be considered while designing a proper plan.

The design of the Broadwood manor is intricate and complex which may need some extensive technical solutions in order to make the re-developed building properly sustainable and energy efficient. In this regard, it should be remembered that sustainable constructions do not only ensure minimal harm to the ecology or environment, but they also save a huge amount of money by reducing the costs of energy utilization (McLennan 2006, p. 56). In order to make sure that the current project also turns out to be sustainable, the developers of Broadwood Manor need to use highly efficient tools and strategies while generating the plans. The designers may utilize several enterprise resources planning software in order to collect data associated with what should be done to make the project an environmentally sustainable one. These tools will be used for data collection and reporting, and also automated decision making based on different metrics and depending on the available resources or opportunities. In this manner, the designers will have a proper understanding of the potentially viable processes that might be adapted for making the design energy-efficient and cost-efficient (Sinou and Kyvelou 2006, p. 570). The sustainable designs would also help in improving the air quality inside the Broadwood manor building. The designers might utilize the recycled materials to use in the construction. In this context, several sustainability assessment tools can be used to find out the extent to which the designs are environmentally sustainable and also how different recycled or sustainable materials can be utilized in accordance with the innovative systems for building development (Soebarto and Williamson 2001, p. 681 ). Furthermore, some of the retrofitting strategies can also be used in order to properly design a sustainable plan and align them with available resources or materials. Such retrofitting measures will potentially concentrate on the utilization of those materials and instruments which will not cause any potential harm to the environment and at the same time, provide sustainability (Saseendran, 2016). In any case, building maintainability (of the Broadwood Manor) with a sustainable touch is an issue which encompasses multiple dimensions, and it also requires considerably more than diminishment of carbon outflows (in spite of the fact that these aspects are sufficiently troublesome to accomplish) (Dawson 2007). Therefore, there is a requirement for imagining a systemic move in the currently assembled condition of Broadwood Manor; not simply to diminish carbon discharges, but rather to change the whole ecological tendencies of urban communities (Rotmans, 2006).

It is likewise imperative to consider that retrofitting may be applicable to individual structures as well as to the built or fabricated condition all in all. Therefore, the designers must differentiate between building retrofitting and urban retrofitting in order to appropriately pick and apply the measures that fit best to the scenario. In this regard, the principles produced and benchmarks set by a notable institution such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) might prove to be extremely helpful in deciding which guidelines should be followed and what measures should be implemented in order to make the project feasible. The new designs should make sure that the developed building conforms to the benchmark IEQ Credit score for the thermally comfortable setting. The developers should critically consider placing thermal vacuum solar panels on the roof. For the heating or cooling purposes inside the building, radiant panels accompanied by the knuckles framework might be installed. Mechanical ventilations can effectively control the rate and extent of humidity inside the building. Furthermore, an integrated compressor may also be utilized so that the mechanical ventilation systems are controlled. As far the as the lighting of the external parts are concerned, programmable control switch system might be installed. Moreover, infrared presence detectors might be installed throughout the house in order to control and monitor lighting inside the house. All of these equipments are extremely efficient in saving energy as compared to the traditional measures. Moreover, the developers need to pay some more amount of money to make these installations. However, the equipment will provide the project long-term benefits from both energy-saving and cost-efficient perspectives. Thus, the development project might prove to be both sustainable and feasible.

Potential Solutions for Designing of the Development Project

It has been decided that the entire ground floor of the Broadwood Manor will be utilized for providing space for communal and ancillary places. In this context, it will be extremely important to appropriately assess and determine how the rooms and other spaces on the first floor will be re-designed in order to make sure that the facilities are well placed and connected to each other, and are easily accessible. However, the designs should ensure that the available space is used to its full potential. After going through the ground floor plans and design of the Broadwood Manor, there are some potential ideas which can be used in order to develop some necessary facilities. The reception hall does not need to be further developed as they are well placed and cover required space for use. Moreover, the kitchen also does not need to be developed. However, it is highly recommended that the elm and oak rooms are merged together in order to create a big restaurant or dining space. As the project will build up an extra care facility for the older people, their physical and psychological needs should be considered properly. The restaurant or dining space will allow the residents to interact with each other and also to have food together. Moreover, the pine room should be changed into a lounge equipped with sofas, chairs, and other options for resting. Furthermore, the lounge would also enable the elders to wait in comfort if it is found that due to any unavoidable reason, the seats of the dining place is filled up. The maple room should also be considered for the development, and it should be changed into the laundry. There is not any laundry room in the current building plan. Therefore, it will be vital as well as significant to add such an important facility. As there are two separated washrooms in the ground floor, there is not any need to develop those facilities. The developed building should also make sure that it provides sufficient and efficient accommodating to the support staff. As it would be a big project, there would be numerous support staff required for helping the residents. Therefore, they will need a big space for their accommodation. The waiting and the cedar rooms should be merged together in order to create a bigger space that will serve as a resting place for the staff.

The copier room can be merged together in order to make space for developing a room for consultation with doctors. As the place will accommodate older people, the developers need to remember that they might require regular health check-ups and supervision. Therefore, the consultation room will serve as a facility for the residents to consult their health-related issues and queries with doctors. The developers should arrange for the doctors to visit the extra care home. The rest of the facilities do not need to be changed as they serve some necessary functions which would be relevant to the project. The project developers are also thinking about developing two new buildings adjacent to the existing one. They will also serve as residential complexes as well as some other ancillary or communal facilities. Again, simply due to the fact that the residents will be older people, all of the buildings should be easily connected with each other so that the residents can easily access them whenever they want or need. The garden space just beside (at the right hand side) the manor can be transformed into an extension for a badminton court. However, the two new buildings should be built up in such a manner that all of the buildings are horizontally placed on the same scale. The buildings should be connected through passages or walkways that will be protected by shades made of timber or eco-friendly concrete. Thus the entire plan will serve the purpose and objectives properly.

The development should also consider some other critical aspects apart from building plans or designs. Firstly, they need to make sure that the property is appropriately insured. Every developer should purchase a helpful and beneficial insurance policy that would insure the work completed during the development process (Mullee 2017, p. 56). Moreover, they also choose to purchase a long-term insurance for the newly developed building. However, the managers and supervisors should ensure that housekeeping, electrical, fire related, water related, and theft related risks are thoroughly monitored and mitigated (Doggett 2012, p. 6).In addition, the development project will also need legislative compliance with the currently active regulations and guidelines set by the government.

It has been already described what kinds of potential material will be used, and how the facilities will be provided. The project will make sure to adhere to every aspect of fire safety, ventilation, sanitation, and drainage. The risks associated with these aspects will be mitigated by consulting with the specialists so that legally suitable and achievable objectives can be formulated. The residential rooms of the project will make sure that their sound is resisted from passing through the walls as per the guidelines of the legal implications. The designs have also clarified the positions of the facilities and how they will be connected to each other. It has been clarified that every building should be connected to each other through well-furnished passages. The communal places will also be connected together properly through interrelated passage ways. In this manner, the residents will not have to put much effort while trying to access any facility or service.

Conclusion

The current paper aimed at exploring the basic principles of adaptation of the issues and advantages related to environmentally sustainability, and the potential design for the possible development project of the Broadwood Manor. It has been found out that cost-effectiveness, local importance, architectural significance, and environmental sustainability are the main factors which determine the principles of adaptation. While environmental sustainability may prove to be extremely beneficial from multiple viewpoints, it poses a few challenges such as the availability of required materials, alignment of the strategies in a proper manner, and reduction of the harms to the ecology. However, the Broadwood Manor project will use proper eco-friendly materials as much as possible and align the plans for the experienced professionals. It has also been found out that some of the rooms in the manor should be merged or re-developed in order to serve the purpose of providing some new facilities or upgrading the existing ones. If these steps are followed, and recommendations are considered, then the project of transforming the Broadwood Manor to the extra care home by Happy Homes will be hugely successful.

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