Meet ArkleBoyce – the team behind our Young People’s pavilion
We’d like to introduce you to ArkleBoyce, the award-winning architecture studio who designed our brand-new pavilion for bereaved children.
Tell us a bit about Arkle Boyce
“ArkleBoyce was by James Arkle and Graham Boyce in 2014, and the team work nationally on a huge variety of projects of varying scales for a whole range of clients. From one-off private residencies to commercial developments. Masterplans to urban regenerations. It’s not the size of a project that inspires us, but the opportunity to create something special (this is very true of the work at St Gemma’s.)”
What was the design process like?
“The pavilion project has all the right ingredients to be incredibly special, a lovely engaging client, an interesting and sensitive brief and beautiful garden setting. The early stages of the project were incredibly rewarding and working with the talented Young People’s Service staff and the children and young people was a highlight for us.
“The age range of the children varied quite considerably, so we had some requests of snakes and lizards to be included in the pavilion from some of the younger children, whilst the older ones wanted games consoles. It was a very special experience and it was evident how talented the St Gemma’s team were.
“After a long break in the project, due to Covid, it’s now lovely seeing the building coming to life and we feel incredibly privileged to be a small part of this well needed facility that will have a tangible benefit to the Hospice and the children.”
What are your favourite features of the pavilion?
“The building form and concept was simple, it developed around the programmatic requirement of the brief and a strong response to the site. The concept of the roof providing a protective canopy and referencing the trees in the garden was part of the concept from the outset and we are really pleased with how it’s manifested itself in the pavilion. We think it’s a really successful element of the project.”
You can find out more about our new pavilion here – https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/young-peoples-pavilion