Calum Norman
Architectural Assistant
Calum is passionate about creating places that engage people with nature and bring joy to the everyday. Since joining Cullinan Studio in 2017 he has pursued this passion through a broad range of projects, including the UK’s longest aerial walkway in the Leicestershire countryside, heat network masterplans, the new children’s community mental health project at the Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool and a new SEMH school in Southwark.
Calum has recently taken the lead on PHPP (Passivhaus Planning Package) studies on both existing and new build projects, exploring how this analytical tool can be integrated and optimised.
Alongside Calum’s work at Cullinan Studio, he is an avid baker and cook, something everyone in the office is very grateful for.
Project Experience
Seeing the wood for the trees - enhancing patient experience through timber
At Alder Hey hospital we have been redefining the children’s hospital experience for the 21st Century. Natural materials, a domestically scaled internal environment and connections to nature combine to create a relaxing setting and sense of warmth to what is typically a daunting experience. Research shows the benefits of natural environments on wellbeing, mental health and physical recovery in patients, so we are designing a pair of new all timber inpatient and outpatient centres, to re-define the typical hospital experience. Becoming part of a neighbourhood of landscape orientated buildings, Alder Hey will be the first hospital in Europe to be integrated within a new park.
GreenSCIES: Building an energy grid for a low carbon future
With everyone talking about how we move towards a low carbon future, what can architects offer to the new wave of infrastructure that will be needed? We are working as part of a team of sixteen other partners to design a ground-breaking low carbon smart energy grid. I believe the future of our energy is vital in the challenge to achieve targets for Net Zero Carbon, and the potential to create robust, healthy and prosperous communities. Working as part of a wider network of engineers, designers and other business partners is an amazing opportunity to combine all our skills to tackle one of the defining challenges of a generation. We must collaborate to succeed.
Retrofitting Communities: A handbook for 21st century community infrastructure
Developed as part of Calum’s LSA Design Thinktank, “Retrofitting Communities” presents a handbook for the revitalisation of community infrastructure; a route map to assess value, retrofit or repurpose and disperse community assets across Hackney. It is vital to integrate young people in the conversations that shape their city, something particularly prevalent for those aged between 12-19, as they establish a relationship with the city that surrounds them. “Retrofitting Communities” works to integrate these vital young voices into its proposals, placing them alongside existing community members for whom council-owned social infrastructure, (predominantly the community hall) provide a vital, if underused, service.