Co-ordinator: Russell Light
Chancet Wood Children’s Respite Centre is located in the southern suburbs of Sheffield. It is a place where disabled children can stay for weekends/short breaks to have a change from their home environment and also so their parents/carers can also have some time to themselves. Set in very attractive, spacious grounds, the building is a 70’s system build with absolutely no relationship between the inside and outside (it feels a bit like a space capsule). Even when you do get outside, there is just a small paved area, with no provision for access to the majority of the grounds.
The aim of the live project is to create better relationships with the outside and to create accessible outdoor spaces. The centre has already successfully bid for some money (£800) for the creation of a sensory garden and this will be a starting point for the live project. Exploring options for further funding will be an important consideration. An initial meeting with a group of the teenagers who use the centre showed that they are absolutely thrilled at the idea of working with architecture students, particularly in getting involved in digital explorations of design proposals. The staff are equally thrilled at the possibility of enticing them away from their Playstations and Nintendos!
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