CCA1126 / Rehab Centre Refurbishment, The Matthew Project

Project Phases

The first phase involved strip out and demolition, focused on a soft-strip of the building’s previous use as a food research laboratory, with extensive building services needing to be made safe and removed. The second phase created new kitchen and toilet blocks to ensure the existing facilities could be operational and avoid disruption to the vital services. The third phase focused on creating a main social hub space with café, general seating, and library.

Our proposal also included a multifunctional space that is acoustically resilient to the rest of the building and can be used for music, dance, yoga, and meditation. New counselling rooms, laundry, kitchen, and café areas were also accommodated on the ground floor, with the mezzanine devoted to social space, including TV and games areas.

Cannon Clarke Architects listened carefully to the staff and service users to create a conceptual vision for “The Recovery Hub.” The brief was to create a safe community space, where friendships and support can be found. The facility needed to “give the opportunity to build self-esteem and confidence through a balanced programme of vocational and creative workshops/activities.”

Design and Material Choices

This rehab centre refurbishment was realised through careful consideration of materials that fit the light-industrial nature of the building’s previous life. Internal walls are clad in matte varnished OSB (oriented strand board), not only for robustness but also for its self-finish, visually warm wood qualities. CCA also proposed to paint the existing ceiling structure, including the fixtures to remain, in anthracite to disguise the potential visual ‘mess’ and unify the space with one treatment.

Lighting feature rafts and the bar front were made from upcycled scaffold planks and truss bracing. The base architectural design is deliberately calm and neutral, allowing furnishings to be eclectic, sourced at different times and from different styles while remaining complementary and in harmony with the overall concept. New openings were formed in the front elevation to provide much-needed natural light and create a new principal public entrance.

Given the complexities of taking internal partitions to the underside of the roof of a portal-framed light-industrial unit, our concept was to cap all new ground-floor accommodation within this central space with a mezzanine floor. While this provides a neat solution for subdividing the space below, it also provides additional accommodation above.

Testimonial

Graham Parfitt, Recovery Service Manager at The Matthew Project said: “Working with Cannon Clarke Architects was a seamless experience. From the initial concept through to completion, they demonstrated an impressive level of design creativity, technical ability, and commitment to our project. Their team took time to understand our unique needs for the ‘Next Steps’ recovery centre and translated these into a thoughtful, community-focused design that perfectly serves our clients and staff.

The Cannon Clarke team navigated complex challenges with skill and efficiency, ensuring the project progressed smoothly despite a tight schedule and phased requirements. Their attention to detail and responsiveness were evident at every stage, and they worked closely with us to create spaces that are both functional and welcoming. The end result is a vibrant, adaptable space that truly reflects our vision for a supportive, safe, and inspiring environment.

We would highly recommend Cannon Clarke Architects to anyone looking for an architectural partner who listens, cares, and delivers outstanding results.”