Wallace Court

Wallace Court in Mauchline is an assisted living development for East Ayrshire Council, designed by MAST with CCG and the East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Building on lessons from earlier schemes in Hurlford and Auchinleck, the project refines an established model of supported housing while also standing as the project team’s first operational Net Zero development for this accommodation model.

The scheme provides 13 self-contained assisted living flats, six designed for wheelchair users, alongside an on-site staff base and three wheelchair-accessible bungalows. Specialist features including wet rooms, tracking hoists, adaptable kitchens and assistive technology are integrated discreetly, supporting residents with different needs while retaining a clearly domestic character.

Shared spaces were also designed to support independence and informal interaction. Wider circulation areas form an internal street around the two wings of the building, overlooking a landscaped communal garden. Extensive glazing and double-height spaces introduce natural light, while the garden provides opportunities for sitting, gardening and everyday contact between neighbours.

The Net Zero strategy began with a fabric-first approach, using off-site manufactured timber frame construction, enhanced airtightness and careful thermal detailing to reduce energy demand. Triple glazing, air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels were then incorporated to further improve operational performance and remove reliance on fossil fuels.

These measures were developed alongside the assisted living brief rather than added separately, keeping the focus on homes that are comfortable, manageable and straightforward for residents to live in.