The development of the surgery required the incorporation of modern health care facilities whilst retaining the old school building structure and character.

Our client acquired the Old School Building of St Matthias to relocate their busy Medical Centre providing Primary Care locally for Fishponds, Bristol. Our brief was to rationalise the existing, remodel and extend the building whilst preserving existing features.

The concept for the extension was to conceal it behind the existing Old School Building on the principal elevation to reduce impact. The south elevation was constructed using coursed rubble. The roofing materials allowed a combination of shallow and steep pitches with butterfly configurations and slender eaves to minimise distractions. The materials used in the extension were carefully considered to balance the new and existing building and provide the connection between the two by borrowing the form from one and the material from the other.

The resulting design provides the modern facilities now associated with a doctor’s surgery within the envelope of a building that deserved that retention.