Construction Rationale
We tried very hard to make the building exemplary in its minimal use of carbon both in construction and day to day running but this easier said than done and this section will share some of the key lessons we learn as the project progresses.
It will be built, at the entrance to the Reserve and we had hoped from sustainable resources such as limecrete and re-cycled marine timber and green oak, possibly sourced from a sustainable forest in Normandie as well as Sussex. Rainwater was going to be stored as a source of greywater separate from drinking water. Windows were to be triple-glazed and opened inwards for easier cleaning. All this proved to be very expensive and although we will try to rescue some elements such as rainwater harvesting, the idea of green oak and marine timber had to go.
We hope to use a variety of insulation methods observable behind removable panels but our current shell and core approach does not allow for this. A possible mix could be sheep's wool, flax, wood fibre, cellulose and egg boxes, as was used in the small signal box on site and which was opened by David Dimbleby on 15th May 1999.
We had hoped to demonstrate a variety of power sources but in the end have done pretty well to secure Lottery money for the total cost of photovoltaic cells that will cover three of the six sections of roof and half the cost of a ground source heat pump. We are waiting to hear the result of a further application for the rest of the heat pump costs.
The Pavilion will be able to withstand floods as it will be raised on stilts so providing much needed space but without compromising the overall 'footprint' of the building in the floodplain. It could thus act as a river watch centre in times of emergency by providing accommodation for Environment Agency staff who, prior to the floods of 2000, had to use a caravan.
A listening loop and the provision of habitats for a variety of creatures (birds, bats, spiders, bees as well as microscopic life) will be incorporated from the start as will the use of remotely controlled digital cameras to record events both inside and outside the Pavilion.
