Dartford Valley Rugby Club
The new rugby facilities at Dartford Valley Community Rugby Club (DVRFC) provide a home for the borough’s only rugby club. HMY worked initially with Dartford Borough Council and a consultant team led by Campbell Reith and then with BBS Construction to rejuvenate an area of previously underused heathland on high ground overlooking the River Thames. The new building has allowed both the council and DVRFC to forge links with the local community and the building has become a community hub offering local residents a rugby/sports facility and social, educational, and support classes for all ages.
The facility includes a clubhouse building and two full-size, international-standard pitches; all-weather 3G pitch to the west of the clubhouse, and an all-grass pitch to be formed following the removal of overhead power lines to the east. The clubhouse is well-sited between the pitches with player access and spectator views for both pitches, and a large function room at first-floor level – with ‘Matchday’ accommodation on the ground floor level.
Externally, the clubhouse has been designed to express a horizontal emphasis – reinforcing the direction of play on adjacent pitches, helping the building to appear lower on the horizon of the elevated site. Accoya timber cladding to the upper floor provides a sustainable, attractive finish that will be long-lasting, minimising the need for maintenance. The building is fully accessible and designed to maximise natural ventilation. Roof-mounted photovoltaic cells provide a zero-carbon renewable source of electricity.
The result is a new sports facility which has proven both popular and successful. This is testament to the client’s decision to retain their architect throughout all stages of the design process, and to the construction teams involved who worked in close partnership with both the council and DVRFC.
