Pick Everard win sustainability award

Designed by Pick Everard, the first youth hostel built in the National Forest has won the RICS East Midlands Regional Sustainability Award 2008.

This project will now go through to the RICS Awards international final in London on 17 October.

The National Forest is a forest in the making, significantly contributing to the regeneration of two hundred square miles in its remit and right at its heart, is one of the UK's top tourist attractions CONKERS.

The YHA wanted a new hostel that could be built quickly to a high standard.

It was to be robust, an exemplar of timber design, using best practice in modern timber construction technology and above all, sustainable.

Energy conservation and minimising energy consumption were of prime importance.

Pick Everard architect Jerry Tseng explains "We've designed a youth hostel that balances function, buildability and cost".

"Within a tight budget, we've been able to use viable 'green' alternatives to conventional solutions." With a commanding view of distant countryside, the hostel was located and orientated to exploit the southern aspect of the site, maximise solar gains to solar panels and create suntrap terraces.

The design of the building allows energy to be saved by using as much natural light as possible and vertical sash windows with shutters provide natural ventilation.

Simple techniques, using overhangs, provide summer shade and winter light yet protect timber cladding.

Maximum insulation is exploited by using the full depth of the timber frame and solar thermal panels are set at an optimum operating angle and positioned as ground floor verandas to shade the ground floor public areas and offer ease of maintenance.

The drainage system is sustainable, rainwater is recycled and an exemplar wood fuel boiler system will heat the hostel using locally sourced fuel from the National Forest.

Building materials of low embodied energy were used in construction and were also sourced locally from the forest.

Facilities have been designed to appeal to families, young people and educational groups on a budget, with sociable gathering spaces for groups to meet, eat and relax together - something the Youth Hostel Association encourages.

Rooms are also flexible, designed to be adapted for singles, twins, fours and families, complete with en-suite facilities and catering facilities on site that today's hostellers expect.

There is easy access to footpath and cycle links and to the CONKERS site and waterside.

Occupancy of the new 75-bed, GBP1.78m hostel is expected to be around 12,000 visitor nights a year.

The hostel was opened officially on 14 March 2008.

Pick Everard was also the winner of the RICS East Midlands Community Benefit Award 2008 - for its design of Madani High School in Leicester.

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