EXTRA CARE FACILITY CRAIG WALDING – DIRECTOR, ONE CREATIVE ENVIRONMENTS, UK


Redefining care on the Falkland Islands


Multi-disciplinary design practice ONE Creative environments marked its 50th year in 2025. This anniversary aligned with the completion and official opening of Tussac House, the Falkland Islands’ first purpose-built extra care facility, designed and delivered by ONE. Director Craig Walding tells us more.


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


26


CGI showing landscape proposals for Tussac House.


Tussac House delivers long-term socio-economic benefits


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


Craig Walding


Craig Walding is a director at ONE Creative environments, a multi-disciplinary design


practice headquartered in Worcester, with additional offices in Birmingham, London, and Cardiff. With more than 28 years’ of experience,


Craig is ONE’s client lead for the Falkland Islands and other British Overseas Territories, and alongside the company’s Board he oversees the practice’s success both across the UK and overseas.


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


IFHE DIGEST 2026


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104