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Stirling care home goes it alone following planning rebuttal

October 20 2020

Stirling care home goes it alone following planning rebuttal

Northcare and Unum Partnership have come forward with proposals to erect a 71-bed care home at Lower Bridge Street, Stirling, jettisoning a larger masterplan in the process.

A 'visually incongruous' masterplan for the area was turned down by Stirling Council in August after concerns were raised over the detrimental impact of student housing on the area and a lack of off-street parking.

Now the applicant will solely progress the care home element of that broader scheme, delivering a cranked T-plan design that maximises utility of the triangular junction.

Explaining their design rationale Unum wrote: "This simple form is articulated with a series of smaller protruding boxes. These reduce the perceived mass of the building and provide articulation at important junctures to ground the building within its context. They also articulate prominent gables and form important vistas looking into the site from adjacent streets.

"A protruding box at the main entrance helps to highlight this and protect it from the elements."

Offering residents a high standard of living the home will include a cocktail bar and external terrace as well as a cinema and cafe. A north-south pedestrian route will also be established. 

The 0.75 acre site is currently occupied by public gardens
The 0.75 acre site is currently occupied by public gardens
The sensitive site sits beneath the castle and borders a conservation area
The sensitive site sits beneath the castle and borders a conservation area

9 Comments

Whispering Andy
#1 Posted by Whispering Andy on 21 Oct 2020 at 09:38 AM
Whisper it.......but 4 storey care homes are far from ideal.

The frontage of the building is far from a 'simple form' - it looks more like the car Homer Simpson designed.

Poor effort all round.
Andy
#2 Posted by Andy on 21 Oct 2020 at 11:38 AM
#1 - Why do you feel the need to prefix (from what I can see all) your comments with 'Whisper it...….'? Are you attempting humour? Genuine question.
I don't see what the issue is with a 4-storey care home. Are you insinuating that this means more stairs to climb for residents, staff and visitors, as opposed to say a 2 storey build?
I don't get the Homer Simpson reference. I don't think it's a very thought through site response, however I don't get your reference.
No need to whisper here
#3 Posted by No need to whisper here on 21 Oct 2020 at 12:01 PM
Agree with #2
Can we agree to stop this whispering nonsense? With all the negative comments coming from you, can you give us a link to where we can see your architectural work so that we can have a wee discussion whether it is good or not?
Whispering Andy
#4 Posted by Whispering Andy on 21 Oct 2020 at 12:10 PM
Whisper it.......@2 A 4 storey care model is far from efficient from an operational perspective. Additional staffing is required to adequately service the facility.

Moreover, it makes the residents journey to external spaces far more cumbersome!

The Homer Simpson car reference comes from the unnecessary complexity of elevations. It has far too much going on. For Unam to suggest it is simple is using words to try and disguise what is actually going on. Much like Nicola Sturgeon telling us all she's doing a great job, despite the factual performance of the last 13 years.
Andy
#5 Posted by Andy on 21 Oct 2020 at 12:33 PM
@4 Ok, I shall assume the answer is yes then to my first question. What a gag.
You are incorrect in your operational efficiency statement. Are you suggesting that one staff base for 2 units of 12 bedrooms is inefficient?
Do you not consider the terraces to be external spaces?
Once again I fail to see the relevance of your reference to Nicola Sturgeon with regards to this discussion as much as your Homer Simpson one.
All the best Whispering Andy.
Whispering Andy
#6 Posted by Whispering Andy on 21 Oct 2020 at 12:40 PM
Whisper it....@3 - All comments are anonymous, including yours. Those that actually know me will understand the whispering comment (Life long illnesses are a cross many have to bare). Nonetheless all of my projects which have been posted have met with the majority of favourable comments but also the odd anonymous grumble.

As an aside, you will have noticed that the majority of my comments are in support of good architecture. There is the odd poorly thought out design, such as this, where I will fairly critique. Its what this website is all about.

Thanks for your concern.
RJB
#7 Posted by RJB on 21 Oct 2020 at 13:52 PM
#6

Sorry to hear of your affliction. It does rather take the edge of the content of your comments which from what i've seen always seem to interesting and well thought
Hard of Hearing Harry
#8 Posted by Hard of Hearing Harry on 21 Oct 2020 at 14:59 PM
#1, 4 + 6........What?
The Bawlin' Bairn
#9 Posted by The Bawlin' Bairn on 22 Oct 2020 at 13:38 PM
We could start with putting the wheelchair bound residents on the ground floor and able-bodied folks higher up!! Proper risk asses the ability of each person to efficiently escape from the building in case of an emergency.
Looks a big beast although more luxurious than your typical Premier Inn the operation of the care home has to be like clockwork. Staff training essential but the internal layout will prove whether it works over 4 storeys or not. Can we isolate sections off from one another in case of more Covid, winter vomiting virus etc..
Oh and where do the fire tenders park?

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