Hallmark pride themselves in being the leading provider of high quality care and they looked to us to deliver excellence in design of their latest care home. This was a virgin site that was bought with planning permission for a 75-bed care home with a GIA 4113m2, which fell short of Hallmark’s brief. We redesigned it from scratch and gained planning permission for 84-beds with a GIA 5452m2 with outstanding facilities that went above Hallmark’s expectations. The scheme provides 24-hour care, dementia and nursing services but is designed to create a domestic rather than an institutional feel. The accommodation is arranged to form social groups of 10-12 residents, each group with its own communal lounge, dining areas and nurse base. The facilities also include café/bistro, cinema, shop, hair salon, therapy room, celebrations room and high quality landscaped gardens. The building has been designed in the shape of an ‘H’ with 2 and 3-storey wings. The ‘H’ plan creates two courtyards, one of which forms part of the main entrance area. The local planners were keen to see a building that enhanced the streetscape. We have produced a coherent design that includes variety and interest while creating a sense of place and also responding to the local context. The exterior is a mixture of facing Cambridge buff brickwork and rendered white walls with a recycled slate roof. * Awarded Pinders Healthcare Design Awards 2019, ‘Best New Care Home’