EXTRA CARE FACILITY


Redefining care on the Falkland Islands


Marking both the completion of the Falkland Islands’ first extra care facility and ONE Creative environments’ 50th anniversary, Tussac House represents a significant milestone in healthcare design. Craig Walding, director at ONE Creative environments, reflects on the challenges, innovations and collaborations that shaped the project.


ONE Creative environments was appointed by the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) to design and deliver Tussac House. The challenge was to deliver a non-institutional, flexible, future-proof care facility which was sustainable, thermally and acoustically enhanced, and with low-energy design suited to the South Atlantic climate, that would transform social care for local people. Tussac House is a state-of-the art new care


facility positioned on the coast of Stanley Harbour overlooking the Narrows (the strait that leads into the Harbour). This pioneering 3,600 m2


development, which officially opened


in March 2025, sets a new benchmark for social care and assisted living in the Falkland Islands. It provides a high-quality, adaptable environment for older people, individuals with disabilities or learning difficulties, and those requiring dementia care. From the outset, the design ambition was to create a


‘home for life’: warm, welcoming, and grounded in the island’s culture and natural beauty. The facility includes 27 apartments and 10 single bedrooms, with maximised sea views, assistive technology, and inclusive design supporting physical and cognitive needs. The village feel layout is safe, socially engaging and connected, with communal areas that can host community events and wonderful landscaped outdoor spaces, encouraging independence and group interaction. At the official opening, MLA (Member of the Legislative


Assembly) John Birmingham, portfolio holder for health and social services in the Falkland Islands Government, said: “I would like to thank ONE Creative environments for their contribution to the success of the Tussac House project. At the start of the project, it was envisaged that Tussac House would feel like a home rather than a hospital or an institution and I believe this has been achieved. The official opening was a milestone in the progress of care services provided to our community and the finished building is something we can all be proud of.”


Innovation with site sensitivity The first of its kind on the islands, Tussac House introduces a holistic care model and architectural innovation not previously seen in the overseas territory. Early in the concept phase, our architects collaborated


with their inhouse structural engineers who proactively proposed a panelised, prefabricated timber frame system. As a construction method familiar to the Falklands, it maximised construction efficiency, minimised on-site waste,


and aligned with local construction skills while creating a modern yet contextually sympathetic environment for residents, staff, and visitors. Glulam portal frames were specified to support


large open spaces and to visibly expose the timber, enhancing the biophilic and calming quality of the internal environment. The building was clad in extremely durable FSC-certified Accoya timber (Durability Class I – EN 350), chosen for its low embodied carbon and high resilience to the harsh environment that encounters high UV levels and strong winds and rain. An offsite premanufactured timber trussed roof was incorporated to provide the built forms of duo pitched roofs that emulate the local vernacular, whilst also being engineered in units for ease of containerised shipping and erection on site, with minimal material wastage. The timber cladding/coloured rooftops mirror the surrounding area with consultation feedback stating that the building form and colours “feel just like Stanley”. The site presented notable technical challenges.


Located on a steep coastal hillside with soft blue clay, traditional piling methods were unfeasible due to a


February 2026 Health Estate Journal 35


Top: The design of Tussac House works in harmony with the local area while maximising the beautiful harbour views.


Below: CGI showing landscape proposals for Tussac House.


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