Vincent House
This mixed-use building has been designed to provide an accessible public face and headquarters for Age Concern Enfield and Enfield Citizens Advice bureau, with the upper floor providing accommodation for young adults with learning difficulties.
Developed by Christian Action Housing Association in partnership with the London Borough of Enfield, the building has been designed to focus around the shared double-height café and courtyard garden, creating a new local landmark on the corner of Nags Head Road and Hertford Road in Enfield. The ground floor meeting rooms are open to the public; as is the café.
This highly efficient building has been designed for a future with fossil fuel shortages – it uses electricity for heating, but in a manner that dramatically reduces its carbon impact. This has been achieved with:
- High levels of insulation.
- Solar hot water.
- Electricity-generating solar photovoltaic panels.
- Underfloor heating from a ground source heat pump.
- Ventilation with heat recovery.
All of these reduce the building's running costs. The building achieved a BREEAM Eco-Homes Excellent rating.