Carlisle Health & Wellbeing Centre, Belfast

The Carlisle Centre houses a number of clinical and social care services for the community, whilst serving as a base for outreach staff teams. Floors are zoned to allow for public and clinical spaces to be located at either ground or first floor, with level access provided at each of these zones due to the level change across the site. The upper floors are accessible by staff only, with open plan office accommodation located at second floor level and the third floor providing a staff dining area with south facing terrace which affords views over the internal courtyard.

The two public entrances are linked by a three storey internal ‘street’ which acts as the key organisational device and allows views through to the landscaped, stepped, feature garden. The change in level provides spill out areas from inside to out with the external café area at ground floor strategically separated from the children’s external play area at first floor. The external envelope has been designed with a view to providing an attractive and striking aesthetic whilst acknowledging the desire for durability of materials and requirement for security which is integral to the design.