The St. Monica’s project involved two concurrent activities: the construction of a new 50-bed nursing care facility within the walled garden of this Grade II* Listed Building, and the conversion of a listed nursing home building into sheltered accommodation. Work on these two projects at the same time allowed St. Monica’s to remain in its historic location an provide services without disruption.

These projects, both in the Downs Conservation Area in Bristol, require extensive negotiations with the Local Planning Authority English Heritage, and the Local Conservation Protection Group, as well as presentations to the residents of St. Monica’s to reassure them of continued care.

Our design for the main entrance are of St. Monica’s creates a 2-storey glazed atrium that links the external landscape setting and the new courtyard. The choice of external materials and the form of the buildings create an impression of a light garden structure. Glass and timber external walls contrast with stone buttresses and structures reflecting the original garden walls. The roof, which consists of copper sheeting, reflects the glazing bars of garden structures in the vicinity of the site.