Giving life to historical buildings is one of our specialties at Acorn and The Links at Rest Bay is no exception.
First opening its doors over 150 years ago as The Rest, ‘The Links’ as it is now known is one of our most fascinating regeneration projects; originally a convalescent nursing home supported by Florence Nightingale, the Rest was used as a nursing hospital in the First and Second World War.
Due to the striking nature of the building and the fact that it is Grade II listed, the design process saw us stand back and take a more holistic view of sustainability, thinking about the re-use of the existing building and long term place-making. Working on a site, such as The Links, that already has a rich history, to then design from that as the core and build in additional sustainable features such as maximising the thermal performance of the building’s envelope with a fabric-first approach, bio-diversity solutions, or tailored engineering solutions to reduce carbon emissions, it enhances the design process and creates a rich mix of place and space that communities that can thrive in for years to come.
The Links has benefited from a replacement roof and new double and triple glazed windows in order to maximize thermal efficiency and meet present day building regulations, as well as to enable residents to magnify the majestic coastline of Rest Bay through ample glazing. Energy efficient appliances come as standard, while Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery systems provide a modern alternative to regulating inside air temperature. There are also communal car charging ports are in situ for residents with electric vehicles. The Links is the perfect example of bringing a historic building back to life with modern sustainable technology.
Find out more about how old meets new sustainable solutions at The Links in our film here:
Click here to out more about our intelligent solutions to carbon reduction.
