Marigold House
Care Home

The facility needed to be designed to Passivhaus standards to support the reduction in operational cost of the new care home. To help with planning, stakeholder and end user engagement, Building Information Modelling (BIM) was to be used throughout, to deliver an innovative and accurate design as well as provide the client with comprehensive fly-through visuals.

Every detail was carefully considered to create a truly supportive and inclusive environment for future residents. The design accommodates individuals living with dementia and ensures full wheelchair accessibility throughout the building, internally and externally. Thoughtful touches by our interior architects, such as memory boxes placed outside each room and themed floors, provide gentle cues to help residents navigate their surroundings with confidence and comfort.

Each bedroom has been designed for flexibility and ease of use, featuring spacious accessible bathrooms and specialist profiling care beds. All rooms are design to be easily adapted to existing or developing dementia requirements as residents needs changed over time. Additional amenities, including a health and beauty salon and a bookable guest room, further enhance the quality of life for residents and their families.

External areas associated with the build included an extensive landscaped area which wraps around the building to encourage residents to utilise these spaces and have access to private and secure outside areas, which will support their health and wellbeing needs. There was a real drive and focus on opportunities to develop an ‘Outside/Inside’ strategy. This is where external spaces become an extension of the internal spaces, alongside bringing external features inside, through elements such as planting and materials. Included in the design are terraces and balconies on the upper two levels to allow residents throughout the building to have access to outside spaces. The design looks to create a feeling of home while balancing the needs of the residents.

Passivhaus principles are at the heart of the design, ensuring exceptional energy efficiency and resident comfort. The airtight building envelope, combined with advanced techniques, dramatically reduces heat demand. A combination of air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems meets all heating and hot water requirements, substantially improving the facility’s overall efficiency.

Beyond energy performance, Passivhaus design enhances health and wellbeing. Consistent indoor air quality and advanced ventilation systems help minimise the spread of airborne germs and contaminants, reducing the risk of illness outbreaks among residents and staff. This controlled environment supports infection control while maintaining sustainability.

Residents also benefit from improved air quality and superior thermal comfort, creating a safe, healthy, and welcoming space that prioritises both care and environmental responsibilities.