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Powell Dobson design the first large scale Dogs Trust in Wales

Cardiff

Jan 2016

The Dogs Trust has recently lodged a full planning application with Cardiff Council for a new rehoming centre located within Central Cardiff, a bone's throw from Cardiff Bay. It will be the 21st centre commissioned by the Dogs Trust and marks the first large scale development in Wales. Its further evidence of the charities confidence and strategy to promote dog rehoming centre within the city but still maintaining world class dog welfare facilities.

The scheme consists of a number of strategically located pavilion buildings within the 12 acre Brownfield site. The buildings to the north side of the site are open to the public, offering training, rehoming services with conference facilities. The development will also include a Stray Reclaim building which will help to reunite lost dogs with owners. The public buildings are focused around a feature 'Piazza' providing a pedestrian link between buildings and a place for people to congregate and meet. The 'working' buildings which are responsible for the training and rehabilitation of homeless dogs are located on the southern side and are set within a large landscape dog friendly area with a series of meandering paths, and exercise spaces providing a tranquil stress free and enriching environment for the dogs.

The heart of the development is the main reception building which contains kennels, education areas, a veterinary wing, and conference/meeting room facilities with additional smaller specialist and ancillary spaces. This building establishes the overall development's architectural language and palette of materials which are carefully incorporate and detailed on the other smaller buildings. The form is based on a pavilion, and boasts a number of large internal glazed courtyards which contain mature planting and allow natural light to flood the buildings' inner spaces, this feeling is further enhanced by large strategically located rooflights. The feature "box" at first floor, cantilever's from the solid brick plinth to provide a dramatic main public entrance with unobstructed views of the southern landscaped space to the rear.

The Dogs Trust plan to commence construction at the end of 2016 subject to planning approval being received.