Designs for the new Woodlands Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre in Barry, South Wales, have been unveiled.
Designed by Capita Symonds, the community-focused facility, which will have a significant impact in improving the quality of life of people with serious disabilities, will feature a hydrotherapy pool that will be used to treat elderly and disabled people, as well as providing swimming lessons for children and adults with learning difficulties.
The new building will also include a café serving healthy food and a multi-purpose space for gym classes, activites, and health and fitness training sessions.
As well as housing a host of health and wellbeing services, the facility has also been designed to be environmentally friendly, with a number of innovative sustainable features including:
- A ‘fabric first’ approach involving the application of high-performing thermal properties to the walls, windows, roof and floors
- High-level air tightness properties to prevent energy loss
- A low-energy combined heat and power boiler system which will be used to heat the pool and spaces while also generating electricity for the building
- Photovoltaic cells to generate further power and the use of solar thermal cells to supplement the heating of water
- An innovative roof profile modelled using environmental design software to maximise the intake of daylight while minimising solar gain
- Rainwater harvesting technology to minimise daily water usage
The 15mx7m pool, which will have a maximum depth of 1.2m, will be constructed on the lowest part of the site to minimise any obstruction of views from surrounding houses.
The venture is the ambition of Craig and Natalie O’Shea and their business partner, Sarah Moignard. Natalie, whose work as a physiotherapist in the local community has highlighted the need for a hydrotherapy pool in the area, said of the scheme: "We are aiming to create a centre to provide a hydrotherapy pool ideal for parent and baby groups and early learn-to-swim lessons. We also aim to provide rehabilitation and treatment sessions for adults and children suffering from a variety of pathologies and disabilities including back pain, arthritis, cerebral palsy and other limiting and painful conditions."
Architect, Dennis Hellyar, regional director (Architecture) for Capita Symonds, added: “We are delighted to be working on this extremely valuable, communityfocused project. This is a genuine opportunity to make a real difference to people’s quality of life.”
A planning application for the project is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks.
