The U.S. is the second largest construction market in the world, with a market share of 10%. But in England’s Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, workers have officially broken ground on an innovative new animal rehabilitation center, which was designed by Richard John Andrews up and coming design studio.
But unlike other rehabilitation centers focused on domestic animal treatment, this building, which is reserved for a rural site in its development zone in Cambridgeshire, will be 22 meters long and consist of black stained timber.
Most households in the U.S. have at least one pet, but domestic animals everywhere need support. This building will be dedicated to “housing water treadmills for the treatment of domestic animals,” according to Architect’s Journal.
Concrete is used more than any other human-made material on the planet, but this unique structure, which is located off Horsely Fen, has been dubbed the ‘Crooked Barn’ due to the fact that it includes a galvanized steel truss system that’s not quite symmetrical. The building also includes a number of sustainable features, such as solar thermal and PV paneling, which will be attached to the structure’s south elevation in order to power the center’s hydrotherapy system.
“This site is perfect for the function of the practice which will inhabit it once constructed. Due to the clear planning restrictions there needed to be close attention paid to the concept, form and performance of the building for it to fulfill the criteria of a clearly exceptional piece of architecture which references the history of the area, surroundings and immediate settings,” writes Richard Waite.
As mentioned, the Crooked Barn will contain a wide variety of veterinary treatment procedure equipment and specialize in hydrotherapy, which uses treadmills to help rehabilitate domestic animals. The structure is 5.5 meters high, 5 meters wide, and 22 meters long, which is a shape that’s elegant and uniform on the south side. It’s a one-story building that has mezzanine levels to store equipment.
“The design directly references the derelict and abandoned barns that are scattered across the Fenland countryside of Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area. The barn is ‘crooked’ in form, hence its name, and it leans to one side supported by an internally exposed asymmetric galvanized steel truss system, which allows the SIP construction to fully wrap the frame creating a high thermally performing shell,” writes Waite.
Again, this structure will feature a number of sustainable features that essentially puts it ahead of its time in terms of eco-friendly construction initiatives. The solar thermal and PV electric panels will be connected to the hydrotherapy system and the other treatment equipment on premises. This helps to decrease the carbon footprint while maximizing overall efficiency and treatment quality.
The plan for the structure was approved on appeal and has an anticipated completion date of September 2019.
“It will be one of a kind in the surrounding area boasting state of the art equipment and a dedicated facility for the treatment of domestic animals, situated in the heart of the Fens close to the town of Chatteris,” writes Waite.
