MawsonKerr were commissioned to design and deliver a cafe within the grounds of Mount Grace Priory in order to increase visitors numbers, the sites offer and to enhance an underused area of the site. Mount Grace Priory is the most complete surviving Carthusian Monastery in Britain dating back to the 14^th Century including a Scheduled Ancient Monument, Grade I & II* Listed buildings.

The café was part of an overall masterplan for the redevelopment of the gardens designed by Chris Beardshaw (Gardens World).  Mount Grace Priory cafe reaches out into the landscape and becomes part of the interpretation of the site whilst increasing dwell time and visitor experience.  We worked closely with Chris and the team in the integration of the café within the landscape.

From the outset the project has been envisioned as a contemporary building which is respectful to the context. The design refers to traditional wood working techniques, vernacular forms and traditional materials evidenced in the Monument. The oak screen ‘reaches’ out into the landscape and the double pitched form mounted on the oak screen refers to the crossing of thresholds – the boundary walls of the monk’s cloister with the repeating pitches of the monk’s cell’s beyond.

In such a sensitive historic and environmental context, the specification of the materials has to be carefully and creatively considered. The Oak screen was manufactured from unused 30-year-old oak boards. The boards were being stored at an English Heritage Store at Helmsley, North Yorkshire minimising the use of new hardwoods. Slate material for the roof and external walls was sourced from a reclaimed stock of local slate, this was selected as the material requires very low levels of maintenance and can be easily repaired or replaced when required.  

Awards

North York Moors National Park – Best Non Residential Building
RIBA Yorkshire - Shortlisted
RICS Yorkshire – Tourism & Leisure Shortlisted

Beamish Football Centre is an redevelopment of the clubhouse in Stanley. Situated in county Durham the existing clubhouse was no longer fit for purpose and required a new centre to provide the club a more suitable home for their future ambitions.

Anna and Carl Marshall, who run Stanley Events, are addressing an immediate need in an area. They are transforming a community asset into a state-of-the-art centre of excellence for education and sport. The Centre is already used for football and fitness training, skills development and socialising. Their dream is to create a community hub for education and skills development. A centre for coaching excellence where footballers of all ability develop their love of the game and provide an asset that will revitalise sport in County Durham and attract others from across the region to learn, play and enjoy themselves.

“We dared to dream big and we know there are businesses and individuals who will be inspired by our vision for Beamish Football Centre. We are creating an incredible sporting and education venue. Not only to help people today, but to continue inspiring generations for years to come.”

- Carl Marshall, Client

Our design utilises much of the existing building to reduce the carbon footprint. For example the ground floor being largely retained and a new, small brick extension introduced the north and west seamlessly tied in. Furthermore, the first floor is replaced which was formerly a pitched roof space with limited footprint. A lightweight illuminated polycarbonate intervention is now introduced to this floor. Featuring a new kitchen, servery and function room with dual aspect terrace onto the surrounding pitches.

Sustainability was at the forefront of the proposals ethos, with the existing building not only reused but retrofitted to increase performance. Alongside a fabric first approach to new build elements, coupled with a natural ventilation strategy to reduce heating and cooling demands throughout.

Furthermore the new façade has an intelligent LED lighting system. This can be colour changed to light each elevation in a different colour as required.

More on the centre in the press HERE.

Levens Hall and Gardens is a grade I listed hall and gardens and is recognised as the oldest original garden in England featuring the oldest Haha. The house has been in the Bagot Family for centuries who were looking to create a contemporary restaurant within the grounds to complement the amazing historical fair that has been a tourist destination for decades. Famous for the topiary hedges of amazing scale and variety it is regularly used for film sets and garden programmes.

We worked with the family and staff looking at a number of different sites and design options within the grounds before homing in on a proposal that was simple in plan with a dynamic roof form pointing to the future.

The building sits on a plinth above the flood zone and provides a new destination alongside the gardens and hall that can operate all year round. The material palette and detail have been carefully developed to make strong connection to the neighbouring structures with a finely manicured hedge running through the building and out towards the river Kent referencing the gardens. The project is to develop the Bagot Family’s keen interest in ‘field to fork’ eating using products all grown within close proximity for sustainable dining.