Snowy Vets’ new R.C. Mesley Animal Hospital is a project we recently collaborated on with Kydra Designs. Developed in close consultation with Snowy Vets’ Mike Mesley, the design was crafted from his careful mapping of their optimum workflow and his philosophy of health, sustainability, quality, compassion, and professionalism. Clinical requirements are merged with the warm, natural rammed earth material to provide an unintimidating and natural place for pets to visit. Strong connections to the landscape allow for natural ventilation and easy access to the beautiful surroundings Monaro grasslands.

The building incorporates a range of green design techniques, technologies and materials creating a cutting edge contemporary building while also achieving the beauty and warmth the owners were looking for. High-quality, high-performance Binq windows sit comfortably alongside natural materials such as rammed earth and recycled timber. Careful planning and orientation takes advantage of views while encouraging cross ventilation and soaking up winter sun. A polished concrete floor provides appropriate hygiene, provides thermal mass to be warmed by the sun and solar-powered hydronic slab heating. The rammed earth walls allow for diurnal heat exchange (meaning that the heat of the day’s sun reaches the interior during the night and vice versa). The Hospital is an inspiring workplace, warm and welcoming to the public, and a valuable addition to Cooma and the community.

UPDATE We are proud to announce that the R C Mesley Animal Hospital has won ‘Best Non-Residential Sustainable Building’ and received a special commendation for ‘Best Design: New Commercial Structures Up to Two Million Dollars’ at the 2014 National Building Design Awards. It is also featured in the 2014 edition of ‘Winning Design Australia’ Magazine. A big congratulations to Pat Swain at Kydra Designs; we’ve enjoyed being a part of the design team and bringing this project to life.