DSDHA Limited

St Anne’s SureStart Centre

St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner

ST ANNE'S SURESTART CENTRE

Dsdha

ARCHITECTS
Dsdha

CATEGORY
Community Center

PHOTOGRAPHS
Edmund Sumner

PROJECT TEAM
David Hills, Deborah Saunt

BUDGET
£850,000

YEAR
2007

LOCATION
Colchester, United Kingdom

Text description provided by architect.

Following an RIBA competition, DSDHA were commissioned to design a SureStart building to serve the St Anne's area of Colchester.

A public consultation process followed based around 3 possible sites for the new St Anne’s Sure Start building, where this green field site on Harwich Road, which leads into Parsons Heath recreation ground was selected.

St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner

The proposed building has been designed to provide a high quality new community facility which responds to the immediate context of Parsons Heath and its topography.

A dynamic undulating form creates an identifiable entrance to Parsons Heath, encouraging local enjoyment of the new facility and the Heath beyond.

St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner

The triangulated roof is an undulating "landscape" which can be seen from many angles and levels from the Heath above and surrounding roads and green spaces, creating a local landmark and beacon.

“Pevsner believed that what is most impressive about Colchester... is the continuity of its architectural interest. It began before the Romans and lasted through the 18th century. Maybe St Anne’s Sure Start is a sign that the town has rediscovered its taste for adventurous architecture”.

St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner


St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
© Edmund Sumner


St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Elevation 1
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Section 1
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Section 2


St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Drawing 1
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Drawing 2
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Drawing Section 3
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Drawing Section4


St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Detail Section
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Ground Floor Plan
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
First Floor Plan
St Anne’s SureStart Centre
Roof Plan

DSDHA Limited
T +44 20 77033555
DSDHA Limited
357 Kennington Ln, London SE11 5QY, United Kingdom