Berry Hill Park, Mansfield received funding for enhancements to community, health, educational and biodiversity/climate change benefits. The project aims to make Berry Hill a ‘destination park’, a key part of which is a new community/education building designed by Erect Architecture working for lead consultant, landscape architects Arkwood.

Berry Hill Park has a rich and varied history. It was set out as part of the construction of Berry Hill Hall and the woodland fringe and lake survive from this era. During parts of the 20th century the Hall was used a convalescence home for insured miners and the park offered recreational opportunities for mining families including parades and Galas. Only a training tunnel and pithead winding wheel remain to illustrate the connection to the mining industry. Today the park is home of the Mansfield Harriers running club and hosts annual cross-country races.

The proposed building is located to the south of the running track, as a key component of a wider new events area flanked by existing Harriers’ buildings. From its elevated position the building overlooks the new playground, woodlands and lake. It offers community/learning space, a bistro, and public convenience facilities for all park users. The building form follows passive design principles, harnessing sunlight in winter whilst preventing overheating in summer. Bio-based materials such as timber (for structure, insulation, and roof shingles), hemp (insulation and facing blocks) and clay (boarding and plaster) were specified. The foundations will be made of crushed stone, whilst the use of cement has been avoided as much as possible. Embodied and operational carbon of the building have been carefully considered to achieve a low carbon build.