Located in the grounds of a postwar housing estate close to Angel, the building is for a red squirrel conservation centre that will provide a sanctuary for the native red squirrels that were once a common sight across Britain. Using a range of smooth exterior surfaces and deep overhanging roof eaves, the design creates an isolated area within central London that is able to protect this species against invasive and predatory grey squirrels.

Within an evergreen forest zone that is also protected along one side by a large pool of water which acts as a moat, the red squirrels are bred in a natural setting with minimal human intervention, helping them to adapt to their new urban environment. The building’s overall structure and key elements such as staircases are to be built out of exposed and lightly treated timber in order to reduce the carbon impact. Another of the architectural ambitions of the building is to establish a close but safe relationship between the red squirrels and human visitors, all surrounded by copious vegetation, thereby achieving a ‘multitude of ecology’.