This house connects with a hilll in Devon. Many of Cura Designs projects are concerned with the way the landscape interacts with the construction.

WHAT WE DO

We provide full design and research services for the creation of architecture and spaces by placing connections with the natural world as a core design value.

Dedicated biophilic childrens theatre in a park.

Refurbishment and extension to a Grade ll listed home in Devon

Stiltskin Childrens Theatre in Devon

HOME IN DEVON

At its heart biophilic design is about designing buildings that embrace nature for the well being of the occupants and as well protect and enhance the biodiversity in the area by helping to support new habitats for the existing plant , bird and animal populations.

STILTSKIN CHILDRENS THEATRE -SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES

Cura Design works with a range of consultants in order to maximize the benefits of connecting with nature for both occupants and the nature that surrounds the site. Green walls, air and ground source heat pumps, solar pv collectors, thermal collectors and rainwater harvesting were all considered and utlized in this project.

A biophilic designed extension in Devon UK.

New Street Project Photo: Joakim Boren Photography

GREEN CONSTRUCTIONS AND NATURAL ELEMENTS

The Stiltskin Theatre project facade was inspired by traditional ivy covered buildings. This example is a hotel in Rome which has Wisteria and Japanese Creeper planted on the roof. This is an achievable and affordable way of integrating nature with the building. (credit: shepardsgrove.blogspot.com)

Proposal for a swimming pool in a new home

NEW HOME - VISUAL CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE

This was a proposal for a house on a hill in Devon which endeavored to connect the Clients with the hillside and the sites surroundings. The adjacent river and the sky connect with the pool.

A beautiful permaculture garden and biophilic design for Nudge Community centre.

Union Corner Community Centre and Garden

COMMUNITY CENTRE GARDEN - SUNLIGHT AIR AND PLANTS

In conjunction with permacultural designers, the garden is devloped and grown both from the ground and from planters in the courtyard and many of the wall surfaces are utilized.

A biophilic interior design for a flat in Devon.

NEW HOME - VENTILATION

A love for nature can extend to the way that a building is heated and cooled. Ventilation and thermal benefits are improved in this Siberian Larch clad extension by warming internal air in the stairwell with winter sunlight.

All timber cladding, joinery and stair construction is Siberian Larch and is from FSC accredited sources and renewable stock.

Union Corner Community Centre in Plymouth designed by Cura Design.

IUnion Corner Community Centre and Garden

COMMUNITY CENTRE - NATURE AND CONSTRUCTION - THE SPACES INBETWEEN

Union Corner Community Center was a grass roots and crowd funded project that included a community garden.The proposed facade that surrounds the building and the garden envisages all of these boarded up buildings opening up and becoming inhabited with nature and people. Facade panels that initially give the proposal a boarded up and closed appearance, open in the morning to create places to sit and talk. In this way the space between the private space of the garden and the public space of the pavement is reclaimed by the local residents. The new openings in the construction admit light, air and people into the the centre – everytime a visitor walks through a door or opens a window they come in direct contact and touch local artist fabricated elements and become more aware of these natural materials.

Passivehaus wall and roof sketches by Warm for Cura Design.

Working Sketches by Peter Warm Consulting

PASSIVEHAUS TECHNOLOGIES

Cura Design worked with Peter Warm Consultants on initial studies to enhance the Stiltskin Childrens Theatre building fabric and envelope with Passivehaus detailing. This kind of building technology can massively increase the buildings heating efficientcies to the point of not requiring gas heating except as a backup. This is a highly sustainable way of contsructing and refurbishing buildings and vital in this time of climate change and mass extinction.

Feasibility Study for small care homes in the UK

Seaside Flat interior

RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR - MATERIALS

The materials that are used in construction have an impact on nature and on ourselves. This interior project for a two bed flat endeavored to incorporate materials that were either already existing on site or reclaimed and natural. The material selection endeavors to be non toxic and not to harm people plants or animals. The floor is reclaimed teak, the brick is the existing substructure of the flat, the bench is reclaimed solid teak and the paint is lime based. The doors are made from birch ply and have imitation leather handles fabricated on site.

COMMON SENSE

It is common sense.

We are part of nature.

We have a duty to protect and enhance nature in our built environment, both for the benefit of nature and for the benefit of ourselves.