award winning architects

Wednesday, 27 August 2008 11:19

Sainsbury's Flagship Green Store Opens Its Doors

Sainsbury's flagship green store, designed by Stride Treglown, opened in Dartmouth this week.

The store has several headline targets:

To reduce CO2 emissions (embodied and operational) by 40%

To reduce energy required from National Grid by 50% with no gas being used at all on site

To use 60% less water

To divert at least 90% of construction waste from landfill and maximise on site recycling facilities

To minimise and eradicate as far as is practical all environmental pollution caused by the store in terms of surface water, greenhouse gases, noise and light

The curved Glulam timber frame building is heated using a bio-mass boiler fired by locally sourced wood pellets. Large sections of curtain walling at the checkout areas and the 750mm diameter sun pipes over the sales area reduce the amount of artificial lighting needed. Other measures introduced to achieve these aims include: the use of locally recycled aggregates within the Terrazzo floor finish and concrete solutions; rainwater harvesting; locally sourced materials to reduce delivery distances, such as the stone for the new Devon hedges surrounding the site and two 21m high wind turbines areas.

Recycled plastic has been used wherever possible, for example for the fencing to the Park and Ride facility. Vanity units and IPS panels in customer toilets are made from recycled plastic bottles. Car park signage and covered trolley shelters are made from FSC sourced timber.

The rural nature of the site has been referenced in the design of building. The undulating roof is finished in a metal standing seam reminiscent of agricultural barns. The timber clad and rough cast render walls are contrasted with curtain wall facades.

The building is aiming for a BREEAM excellen rating and as such all products had to be BRE Green Guide A or B rated.