Heritage Skills Centre

The main design criteria was to create a sustainable training facility that was to be as unobtrusive as possible within the Castle grounds, but at the same time  provide a positive architectural contribution.

The grass roof is key to the design. When viewed from the walls it allows the building to blend seamlessly with the Lucy Tower motte and the Castle lawns. The grass roof also provides good insulation and is stepped at mid point to allow shaded south light into the workshops.
The two workshops are arranged along the northern elevation allowing good quality north light through high level glazing.

Predominantly natural materials have been used. Walls  are of hempcrete (a mixture of lime and hemp formed in panels) finished with a lime render providing high levels of insulation. The grass roof is irrigated with rainwater collected from the Prison roofs and heating is by an air source heat pump.

This is a working building and has designed to be extremely robust. The use of Glulam beams and columns rather than steel is highly sustainable  and  supports the considerable weight of the turf roof.

“It is our belief that the design that has been produced sits quietly within the Castle grounds, has a simplicity and symmetry which respects the classical listed buildings adjacent but has its own distinct contemporary architecture and makes a positive contribution to the setting of the Castle.”  Andrew Arrol, Architect.

The Heritage Skills Centre was funded by the European Regional Development Fund, East Midlands Development Agency and Lincolnshire County Council. Heritage Lottery Fund have paid for some of the equipment through their Skills for the Future programme and community interest company Social & Local donated funds for a tool library.