Neat were appointed by a private client to restore this three-storey grade II listed former residential hall that sits alongside two smaller buildings within a mature landscape which includes evidence of a former medieval moat that partially surrounded the hall.  This landscape setting is at the core of the client and appointed charity’s desire to develop a brief with learning structured around horticulture.

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We worked closely with the client and appointed charity as the brief evolved to establish a balanced design response retaining and enhancing the character of the listed building, landscape and overall setting. 

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​Through careful consideration and advice we established a ‘loose fit’ response to the core brief of teaching spaces, allowing a flexibility of use that is essential to the broad range of learning needs. In turn this allowed the building to meet the brief with very little modification. The inherent alignment between the brief and landscaping meant that only minor adjustments were required, with the former moat providing a key component to the winter ground water management strategy and horticultural willow coppicing.