Low Carbon Build, Aberdeenshire

Creating a low carbon office for Forestry and Land Scotland’s Durris Depot near Banchory.

Brief

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is the Scottish Government agency responsible for managing our national forests and land. With around 1,000 employees, they operate numerous offices, hubs, depots, visitor centres and a fleet of vehicles for travel and forestry use. Taking action on everyday working practices is vital for FLS to become a greener organisation and to help reach Net Zero, they are looking closely at their infrastructure to ensure everything they do makes them more sustainable.

Bell Ingram Design was engaged to design a low carbon office for FLS’s Durris Depot near Banchory. Along with the construction of the new building, the brief also included extensive upgrades to the external yard areas to provide additional parking and improvements to the day-to-day operation of the depot.

The goal was to create a sustainable and inclusive workplace which embedded our client’s green objectives in its design, construction and running.

The project was led by senior architect Murray Fleming, supported by senior architectural technologist Scott Ramsay and architectural technologist Lauren Livingston.

Process

A flexible fit-out created a building which meets the needs of both staff members and site visitors. There are no allocated desks, instead the office allows for quick laptop connection at any workstation by any user. Collaboration spaces and an external terrace further extend the flexibility of the working environment.

Building materials reflect the build’s low carbon credentials with castor-oil-based open cell spray insulation providing exceptional air tightness and sustainably sourced larch cladding used for the timber exterior.

Elsewhere, aluminium clad timber windows and doors combine the low embodied energy of timber with the long-term performance of aluminium (and its ability to recycle at end of building life). Aluminium profile sheeting is used on the roof as well, again for its longevity and recycling credentials.

To minimise energy consumption, the orientation and glazing maximise passive solar energy gains, with external louvres providing protection from summer overheating. Summer cooling is enhanced by sliding doors to the staff room and main office. All lighting is LED although the high levels of daylighting reduces the need for artificial lighting.

Heating, which provides all hot water, is from an air source heat pump serving water-based underfloor heating. With 100% renewable electricity available this approach allows the building to operate with a fully renewable energy source.

Outcome

Embracing the Civil Service’s ‘smarter working’ principles of using technology, property and leadership to give workers more flexibility over how, when and where they work has enabled Bell Ingram Design to create an optimised, low carbon workplace for our client which demonstrates FLS’s commitment to sustainability as they strive to become a greener organisation and ultimately reach their Net Zero goal.

The project demonstrated Bell Ingram Design’s full range of expertise which encompassed taking the project from inception to completion. This included: design, building warrant approval, tender package and contract administration during construction.

In many ways Durris offers a glimpse into the future of workplace construction. Although builds like this are still the exception, we hope to encourage others in the sector to consider the benefits of using sustainable materials, making renewable energy choices and incorporating smarter working principles.

Our people

Murray Fleming

Murray Fleming

Senior Associate, Architect
Design
Tel: 01463 717 799

About: As Senior Architect based in Bell Ingram’s Beauly office, Murray is responsible for the company's architectural services covering the Highlands and Islands. He has extensive design and project management experience in a wide range of building sectors, including residential, commercial, public and healthcare. Interests: Full architectural design service, Planning advice & submissions, Feasibility studies, Condition surveys, Building warrant advice & submissions, Administration of construction contracts.

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We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

    Our people

    FLS Low Carbon Build | Durris

    Get in touch

    We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

      Our people

      Lauren Livingston

      Lauren Livingston

      Associate, Architectural Technologist
      Design
      Tel: 01307 462 516

      About: Lauren joined Bell Ingram Design in 2017 with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology. Following her success in winning the student CIAT Aspiration Award, she has continued to be an active member of CIAT as an Associate Member. Lauren works from our Forfar office providing assistance to our Principal Architects and Planner on projects throughout the country. Interests: Architecture, Building Conservation, BIM (Building Information Modelling), Sustainability.

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      We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

        Article posted on 29/03/2022

        Remote Lunch Bothy, Highland Estate

        Client calls on BID’s planning expertise to deliver a bespoke lunch stop for shooting parties.

        Brief

        An existing client wanted to build a private bothy on their remote Highland Estate. The vision was to create a property which would better cater for paying guests during the grouse shooting season, generating additional income for the Estate and employment opportunities for local people. It would also be used by the client’s family and estate workers managing the moorland all year round. On this project BID provided planning and design services.

        Process

        We agreed a suitable location with the client and designed a simple and secure wood structure which was accessible via existing hill tracks. There was no requirement for connection to services. We submitted a planning application supported by a reasoned justification for the new bothy which, as the use included a shooting bothy, did not benefit from agricultural permitted development rights.

        Outcome

        Planning permission was granted with the statutory timescale of eight weeks and our success led onto further requests from new clients and owners of Highland Estates for Bell Ingram Design to advise on new and replacement bothy buildings.

        Our people

        Catherine Newton

        Catherine Newton

        Chartered Town Planner
        Utilities & Renewables
        Tel: 01738 621 121

        About: Catherine has worked for Bell Ingram as a Planning Consultant since 2012. Her planning career over the past 30 years has included public and private sector, government agency and charity roles. She brings to every new project an extensive knowledge and understanding of planning legislation, as well as an insight into the requirements of the decision makers and statutory consultees. Interests: Planning, Development and Environmental Legislation throughout UK.

        Get in touch

        We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

          Our people

          Lauren Livingston

          Lauren Livingston

          Associate, Architectural Technologist
          Design
          Tel: 01307 462 516

          About: Lauren joined Bell Ingram Design in 2017 with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology. Following her success in winning the student CIAT Aspiration Award, she has continued to be an active member of CIAT as an Associate Member. Lauren works from our Forfar office providing assistance to our Principal Architects and Planner on projects throughout the country. Interests: Architecture, Building Conservation, BIM (Building Information Modelling), Sustainability.

          Get in touch

          We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

            Article posted on 05/08/2020

            RSPB Bird Hide, Udale Bay Reserve

            Replacing an end of life hide with a larger structure that featured an interpretation space and full access for wheelchair users.

            Brief

            The RSPB’s Udale Bay Reserve is a peaceful, intertidal bay on the Cromarty Firth which is home to thousands of waders, ducks and geese. With our experience of working in protected natural habitats, Bell Ingram Design was engaged to replace an end of life hide on the site with a new, larger structure that would include an interpretation space along with full access for wheelchair users. 

            Process

            The design approach was for an all timber structure with larch cladding which was left untreated allowing it weather naturally to a silvery finish. The building was set on stilts to minimise its impact on the immediate surrounding ground.

            Careful consideration was given to the ergonomics of the seated viewing windows so that all of these could be used by both wheelchair and non wheelchair users. A large floor-to-ceiling viewing window was incorporated providing a panoramic view over the bay, another wall included child height windows allowing up close viewing of the bird life in the trees and shrubs next to the building. Dedicated space was also provided for an artwork by a local artist which fills the hide with colour depicting the changing seasons along with the range of seasonal birds that visit the Reserve.

            Outcome

            The building has proved to be very successful, we were very pleased to read the following entry in the Visitors’ Book from RSPB members visiting from England shortly after the building’s opening: “What a fantastic hide, we have never seen such an excellent hide catering for all ages, well done!”

            With feedback like that, we consider that ‘Job done’!

            Our people

            Murray Fleming

            Murray Fleming

            Senior Associate, Architect
            Design
            Tel: 01463 717 799

            About: As Senior Architect based in Bell Ingram’s Beauly office, Murray is responsible for the company's architectural services covering the Highlands and Islands. He has extensive design and project management experience in a wide range of building sectors, including residential, commercial, public and healthcare. Interests: Full architectural design service, Planning advice & submissions, Feasibility studies, Condition surveys, Building warrant advice & submissions, Administration of construction contracts.

            Get in touch

            We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

              Article posted on 03/08/2020

              The Lookout, RSPB Insh Marshes Reserve

              Combining beauty with accessibility to create a hide in one of the most important wetlands in Europe.

              Brief

              The RSPB engaged Bell Ingram Design to provide a replacement building for a bird hide at its Insh Marshes reserve, which is one of the most important wetlands in Europe. The new building needed to fulfil a number of important additional functions:

              • Provide a panoramic viewpoint over the marshes and to the mountains beyond.
              • Provide a shelter for group talks by the reserve rangers.
              • Provide an interpretation space for information on the life of the marshes.
              • Act as a focal point for visitors to the reserve and assisting through high quality design to promote the reserve.
              • And last, but not least, allow access for all abilities which the previous building did not achieve.

              Process

              The approach was to create a building on two levels with both areas accessible to all abilities. A lower enclosed level would provide a sheltered viewing space, interpretation space and space for group talks while an open upper level would provide unhindered 360 degree views over the reserve.

              The building itself was designed with a circular form ‘sliced’ through with a fully glazed floor to ceiling ‘viewing wall’ projecting out over a steep banking running down to the marshes below. This form was designed to create both a sense of shelter and at the same time drama for visitors.

              This approach was made possible by utilising the topography of the site to allow full wheelchair access to both levels of the building.

              Outcome

              Located as it is in both a National Nature Reserve and National Park, the design took great care to minimise disturbance to the landscape.

              The building has proved to be very popular with the general public, and has helped to bring increased numbers of visitors to the Reserve, particularly local schools to use the classroom space.

              Recognition for the project also came shortly after its opening with its inclusion in the Cairngorm National Park Design Awards shortlist.

              Our people

              Murray Fleming

              Murray Fleming

              Senior Associate, Architect
              Design
              Tel: 01463 717 799

              About: As Senior Architect based in Bell Ingram’s Beauly office, Murray is responsible for the company's architectural services covering the Highlands and Islands. He has extensive design and project management experience in a wide range of building sectors, including residential, commercial, public and healthcare. Interests: Full architectural design service, Planning advice & submissions, Feasibility studies, Condition surveys, Building warrant advice & submissions, Administration of construction contracts.

              Get in touch

              We'd love to hear from you, use the form below to email me direct

                Article posted on 23/07/2020