We're on a mission to transform Rotary Heartbeat House to make it more accessible, inclusive, and better suited to the diverse needs of the families who stay with us.
With the celebrations of the house turning 30 years old, we are pleased to share that Rotary Heartbeat House will be taking on a renovation of its own, with health and safety being top priority along with inclusivity and accessibility.
Below is some of the aspects that we are looking to improve for the cardiac families that stay with us at Rotary Heartbeat House.
Proposal Overview
The proposal for a single-storey rear extension represents a much-needed evolution of the Rotary Heartbeat House, It will replace a deteriorating and thermally inefficient conservatory, along with an underutilised annex staircase. The former is outdated and suffers from poor environmental performance, while the latter has become redundant due to changes in the building’s internal layout and use. The proposed extension will provide a permanent, high-performing construction that enhances comfort, accessibility and sustainability, whilst significantly improving the building’s overall functionality.
Accessibility and Functionality:
The design introduces a accessible bedroom with ensuite wet-room, alongside a semi-accessible bedroom with its own wet-room. An new external patio offers residents the opportunity to enjoy fresh air and connect with the outdoors, while an integrated platform lift ensures step-free access to the wider garden for all users. These new facilities directly address the growing need for inclusive accommodation for guests with varying mobility needs.
Equally important is the creation of multi-use communal spaces. The extension will provide a more comfortable and practical area for remote working, while also acting as an inviting and flexible hub for daily coffee mornings, fundraising events, and other community gatherings.
Materiality and Fenestration
The external material palette has been carefully selected for both durability and sensitivity to the existing structure. Buff brick masonry forms the majority of the external envelope, maintain continuity with the original building, while vertical timber cladding offers a softer, natural contrast. This combination creates a framing effect with hard materiality embracing soft which is especially evident on the rear elevation, where brickwork frames the timber and defines a sheltered patio area overlooking the garden. Integrated planters soften the transition from building to landscape and allow flowers to thrive, reinforcing the therapeutic quality of the garden space.
Generous glazing ensures excellent natural light levels throughout the extension and contributing to passive solar gain in colder months. Timber louvres are incorporated into the façade to mitigate overheating in the summer and enhance privacy. A lantern rooflight allows daylight to penetrate deeper into the floor plan, reducing reliance on artificial light and supporting inhabitant wellbeing. The flat roof construction has been designed to accommodate a self-seeding brown roof, which will promote biodiversity, attract pollinators, and provide a more pleasant visual outlook for residents on first floor. Provisions have also been made for photovoltaic solar panels, further enhancing energy efficiency and the environmental performance of the building.