A sustainable future for St. Christopher’s House

The young people on Murtle Estate have been inspecting St Christopher’s House following a recent refurbishment.

The improvement work was part of our rolling programme to upgrade facilities across Camphill School Aberdeen to ensure the young people continue to have an environment where they can thrive while meeting our commitment to achieving net zero.

For more than 30 years, the house has been an important home for the young adults who live there. While it has been well cared for, three decades have taken their toll and the building was in need of modernisation.

One of the biggest changes has been replacing oil-based heating with air-to-water heat pumps, which provide heating and hot water more efficiently and only when needed. Solar panels and battery storage have also been added, helping to generate renewable energy and support the building’s everyday use.

Other improvements have made a real difference to comfort and day-to-day living. A new kitchen will provide a central space for people to come together to prepare food before sitting down to share meals around the dinner table. Underfloor heating has been installed throughout, insulation has been improved, and the building itself has been upgraded to keep warmth in more effectively. Bathrooms and shared spaces have also been refreshed, with better layouts, improved acoustics, and increased accessibility to support varying mobility needs.

Together, these changes will help reduce energy use and carbon emissions, while creating a modern and comfortable home for residents.The building is also expected to achieve a much higher energy performance rating.

Colum Pooler, CEO at Camphill School Aberdeen, said:

“While the home is now fit for the future, what matters the most has stayed the same. St Christopher’s House continues to be a safe, supportive and welcoming home, where young people can relax, reflect, and socialise.”

‍

The residents, who have been living in other houses on the estate while the renovation work was undertaken, will help to choose furniture for the house before moving back into the home within the coming weeks.

This work was made possible with support from the CARES Community Buildings Fund, which helped bring the project to life as well as support from local suppliers including Sugplumb and Lethenty Cabinetmakers.

‍