Budehaven Day Nursery, Bude, Cornwall

With a decaying old Elliott building, Jean House manager of the Budehaven Day Nursery engaged ecofab to design and build a new purpose-built nursery using early years funding.  The building provides nursery facilities for babies and children up to the age of 4.  With orientation to the south, the building is drenched in sunshine but with carefully located rooflights and natural ventilation, coupled with super insulation and air tightness of around 1m³/m²hr@50pa, internal temperatures remain reasonably constant.  During December and January, the building is heated when necessary using 2 x 5kw air source heat pumps via an underfloor system and domestic hot water during the rest of the year.

The internal environment is further enhanced by the use of local and natural materials such as linoleum, local timber and acoustic, eco-friendly carpets.   2 Large covered play areas provide free flow play. Costing around £1600.00 per m² with a gross internal floor area of 151m² and an EPC A rating of 19 the building sets a great precedent.