November 22 2022

A Clackmannanshire traveller community of 16 families is to be upgraded to current living standards under a comprehensive package of improvements including eight replacement amenity blocks, a community hub and the provision of safe storage for Butane gas.

Led by Austin-Smith:Lord the Westhaugh transformation project was initiated by the local authority and HUB East Central Scotland, with a brief to improve the quality of life of residents.

With the full backing of residents, who have temporarily relocated for the duration of construction works, the interventions include the provision of a new play park, communal waste disposal and reconfigured pitch layouts per fire guidance.

Located near Alloa the rural caravan park suffers from mould growth, no pedestrian access and an inefficient electric hot water supply.

Outlining their chosen design solution the architects wrote: "The design for the amenity blocks takes a simple form of low-pitched roofs with gable walls to either end. There is a contrasting porch intervention that is partially recessed and extruded to help delineate the entrance and provide covered shelter which was a key requirement of the residents.

"Internally the key social spaces are full height and extend up to the central party wall ridge, helping to portray greater space for the compact amenity footprints. The community hub adopts the same features as the amenity blocks utilising the same roof pitch, materials and details.

"To portray a greater site presence, the form is of larger scale and more striking in form by extending from the ridge into the ground, helping form a communal south-facing terrace and screen to the community garden."

Each property will be clad in Thermopine timber rain screen under a corrugated sheet roof of steel or fibre cement. Individual entrances will be defined by a contrasting corten or zinc porch. 

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