The design responds to the mature landscape context. The building plan is configured to respond to and minimise its impact on the landscape setting. The building shape defines three significant external spaces; entrance court; courtyard; and park. In addition to these key spaces the rerouting of the existing drainage ditch parallel to the south boundary defines a linear biodiversity zone. Similarly, the access road along the northern boundary defines a further natural planting zone in conjunction with the existing boundary tree groups. Each of these spaces will be enhanced in accordance with their particular character which, identifies with the unique context - meeting, amenity spaces and open plan office to the more private courtyard garden - cellular offices and foyer to the street frontage (welcome) - warehouse with pedestrian canopy forming a colonnaded backdrop to the courtyard garden. The building design and construction strategy is for a low carbon building to tackle the concerns of climate change. The key issues addressed in the design are as follows: Reducing Building Emissions - fabric first approach Efficient thermal elements and elimination of thermal bridges - wood/wood fibre insulation Air tight construction - excellent air tightness delivered by large panel cross laminated timber (CLT) construction Daylighting to reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours Natural ventilation - generally manual control with night time cooling in summer Control of overheating - solar shading Water/flood risk - analysis and development of swales to reinforce the existing drainage ditch carried out by WSP Engineers Land use and Ecology - careful integration of building to minimise impact on existing landscape. Enhancement of existing ecology. Pollution - non toxic natural materials Materials and waste - renewable materials and prefabrication with extensive use of cross laminated timber (CLT) Health and Well being - focus on nature, natural materials, daylight and natural ventilation Integrated into our creative design process, energy modelling is used to analyse the methods and details that achieve energy reductions. We have focused on solutions that are permanent and passive