Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Norfolk.

Quad-Lock supplied the wall forms for The Lodge at Cawston Park, a project that has just been completed in Norfolk. Cawston Park is an independent mental health care hospital run by Chancellor Care Limited and The Lodge is the latest addition to their 100 acre site. It is a 14 bed unit of an innovative design by C & M Architects Limited, elliptical in plan, incorporating earth sheltered walls raised both internally and externally. It features a secure central garden with a glazed screen wall and a mono pitch radial sedum grass roof.

The floor area totals 1000 m² and the architect, Tom Ground said "We wanted to use a new sustainable Modern Method of Construction (MMC). Quad-Lock's super insulative properties coupled with the good acoustic performance ensured that this building far exceeded Building Regulations and I was able to incorporate a very flexible design. The running costs will be considerably reduced for the unit and it is a fire resistant, healthy environment".

Quad-Lock's MD Peter Townend says: "The system allowed a faster build with less plant needed and greater ability to build in all weather conditions, therefore reducing build time and saving on labour costs."

Gimingham - self build eco house

Tom Ground, an architect based in Norfolk, is building his own green dream house near Cromer. The house will be highly insulated as not only are its walls formed with Quad-Lock insulating concrete formwork but it is also built into the hillside and as such partly earth-sheltered. It will be roofed with grass, feature a glass frontage and traditional local flints to blend into the local landscape. Toilets that flush with rainwater, a geothermal heat pump, and a three pond sewerage system with reed beds will make the house even more environmentally friendly.

Mr Ground, who is planning to do much of the building and decorating work himself, says: "As an architect I did not want to live in a house I hadn't designed myself." North Norfolk District councillors were full of praise of his design when they granted planning permission. They thought it was innovative and different and hoped that it would encourage others to build houses like it.

Artists Impression

Artists Impression

First storey

First few courses; note the sandy soil

Closer View of first few courses

Circular feature

External View

Different wall thicknesses shown

Rear retaining wall with extra steel for sandy soil

External View 1

External View 2

Second storey