The brief required the design of a multi-storey building containing both double and single-storey work units along with one and two-bedroom apartments. The building mass is divided into blocks of between 4 and 7 storeys linked with glazed circulation shafts. The final design and orientation of the development creates a space that is considerate to the site and that maximises the spectacular coastal views around Barry island and the surrounding area.
One of the main focus points of the design was environmental sustainability. As the ever-expanding building regulations require new-built developments to be less harmful to the environment a careful consideration was taken on the decision to use specific materials and building techniques. By using innovative technologies such as the PV array on the BioSolar roof and the GrassCrete car park and pathways I was able to create a development that had a very small carbon footprint compared to other developments of this size.
As the principal designer I was involved up to the fifth stage of the RIBA plan of work, this allowed me to be a part of turning the development from its initial shell into a functioning and sustainable mixed-use building. This included comparing different structural framing and materials, researching green technologies to incorporate into the development and creating a full technical construction package ready to be put out to tender.
Gofynnodd y brîff am ddylunio adeilad aml-lawr sy’n cynnwys unedau gwaith deulawr ac unllawr yn ogystal â fflatiau un a dwy ystafell wely. Mae màs yr adeilad wedi’i rannu i flociau o rhwng 4 a 7 llawr sydd wedi’u cysylltu â siafftiau cylchredeg gwydrog. Mae dyluniad a chyfeiriadedd terfynol y datblygiad yn creu gofod sy’n ystyriol i’r safle ac yn manteisio i’r eithaf ar y golygfeydd arfordirol ysblennydd o gwmpas Ynys y Barri a’r cylch.
Un o brif bwyntiau ffocws y dyluniad oedd cynaladwyedd amgylcheddol. Gan fod y rheoliadau adeiladu byth-gynyddol yn gofyn am ddatblygiadau newydd sy’n llai niweidiol i’r amgylchedd, rhoddwyd ystyriaeth ofalus i’r penderfyniad i ddefnyddio deunyddiau a thechnegau adeiladu penodol. Trwy ddefnyddio technolegau arloesol fel yr arae PV ar y to BioSolar a’r maes parcio a llwybrau GrassCrete, roeddwn yn gallu creu datblygiad ag ôl troed carbon bach iawn o’i gymharu â datblygiadau eraill o’r maint hwn.
Fel prif ddylunydd cymerais ran hyd at bumed cam y cynllun gwaith RIBA, bu i hyn fy ngalluogi i fod yn rhan o drawsnewid y datblygiad o’i gragen gychwynnol i adeilad defnydd cymysg gweithredol a chynaliadwy. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys cymharu dulliau fframio a deunyddiau adeileddol gwahanol, ymchwilio i decholegau gwyrdd i’w hymgorffori yn y datblygiad a chreu pecyn adeiladu technegol llawn yn barod i’w roi allan i dendr.
