The Treehouse

Members might like to know more about the East Anglian Children's Hospice Treehouse, which the Society's judges decided was well worthy of our only Award of Distinction in 2011. The following information is culled from Footprints, the magazine from EACH.

Architect Roger Gilles led the Barefoot and Gilles team who designed the building. He has written about the project as follows: "My experience of the other EACH hospices is that they make the most of life and are colourful and full of light. To do this we have strategically placed windows around the hospice which allow both light to stream in and to provide views of the woodland. This has been the same for the corridors which lead to the bedrooms. There are large windows with window seats incorporated, so children and their families can enjoy views of the courtyard garden outside. Whilst feeling very lively and open, the building also has to be a safe private environment for vulnerable children .... where people can be together and have fun, yet be safe and intimate and even alone when they need to."

The Bauder green roof system is made up of thousands of sedum plants, which insulate the building and collect rainwater. 'No dig' construction was used in the car parking areas to protect tree roots. (Postscript: BBC Look East said the Duchess of Cambridge would visit The Treehouse in Suffolk near Ipswich!)