Amy’s House, Home From Home

CLIC Sargent’s aim with Amy’s House was to provide safe, comfortable and welcoming accommodation for young people – and their families – being treated for cancer at Belfast City Hospital and the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre.

The charity purchased a B2-listed townhouse on College Gardens, just a five-minute walk from the hospital site. Its layout needed to be configured to provide flexible private bedroom and bathroom space for families, and good quality communal living/kitchen spaces.

It was intended that the integrity of the listed building was protected, with conservation of period features and details. New additions are distinct and complement the retained elements. The massing of the added elements comprises a diminishing series of simple blocks which spiral away from the retained building. New elements have carefully proportioned openings and wall thicknesses. Detailing of the roofs in relationship to the walls is precise.

Materials are flush pointed brick, chosen to compliment the traditional stock housing brick of Belfast evident in the existing building, dark zinc roofs and wall cappings. Bespoke aluminium windows are generally flush with the outer plane of the wall, with deep set solid ventilators.