Sustainable Homes
Can Affordable Housing Be Designed to Support Our Wellbeing?
Nature, sustainability and mental health are the key drivers behind the designs of these new UK housing estates
The contentment and wellbeing of residents isn’t a new thing when it comes to designing public and social housing: architects such as Neave Brown and Kate Mackintosh have long championed this aim. But as UK architecture firm Mikhail Riches wins both RIBA’s (Royal Institute of British Architects) Neave Brown Award for Housing for its Goldsmith Street project and the Stirling Prize for its Norwich council housing, the importance of well-designed affordable homes is high on the agenda.
Take a look at these housing projects that were on show as part of Open House London 2019 to see how architects are putting sustainability, a sense of community and a connection to nature at the forefront of their designs.
Take a look at these housing projects that were on show as part of Open House London 2019 to see how architects are putting sustainability, a sense of community and a connection to nature at the forefront of their designs.
Pembury Circus in Hackney, UK
When designing a group of residential blocks in Hackney, north-east London, the architects at Fraser Brown MacKenna (FBM Architects) looked at how the buildings would affect the residents physiologically and emotionally. An important decision was to lay out the buildings to comfortably flow around a series of tranquil spaces and ‘pedestrian desire lines’, or paths that people would naturally take to move from one area to another.
The residential blocks share space with a community centre, daycare, shops, offices and a gym, all of which can be accessed safely and by foot, as the estate is car-free.
Sustainability was again important, with all the new homes being built to have a low impact on the environment. Renewable and low-carbon technologies have been used to make the homes energy-efficient.
When designing a group of residential blocks in Hackney, north-east London, the architects at Fraser Brown MacKenna (FBM Architects) looked at how the buildings would affect the residents physiologically and emotionally. An important decision was to lay out the buildings to comfortably flow around a series of tranquil spaces and ‘pedestrian desire lines’, or paths that people would naturally take to move from one area to another.
The residential blocks share space with a community centre, daycare, shops, offices and a gym, all of which can be accessed safely and by foot, as the estate is car-free.
Sustainability was again important, with all the new homes being built to have a low impact on the environment. Renewable and low-carbon technologies have been used to make the homes energy-efficient.
Kings Crescent in Stoke Newington, UK
Resident involvement was key again in this project in Stoke Newington, north-east London. In fact, the architects at Karakusevic Carson and Henley Halebrown involved the tenants in the design process.
A study by Dutch urban consultant Jan Gehl, which found that pedestrians feel more at ease around streetscapes with varied ‘texture’ and life than ones that are plain, is particularly pertinent here. The blocks differ in character, and a focus on detail and proportion makes the buildings feel interesting rather than monotonous. The three blocks surround landscaped communal gardens with a ‘play street’ in the centre.
The interiors can easily be adapted by residents to suit their needs, and the high ceilings make the rooms feel open and spacious. Large windows and doors that lead out to balconies or terraces bring natural light inside.
Resident involvement was key again in this project in Stoke Newington, north-east London. In fact, the architects at Karakusevic Carson and Henley Halebrown involved the tenants in the design process.
A study by Dutch urban consultant Jan Gehl, which found that pedestrians feel more at ease around streetscapes with varied ‘texture’ and life than ones that are plain, is particularly pertinent here. The blocks differ in character, and a focus on detail and proportion makes the buildings feel interesting rather than monotonous. The three blocks surround landscaped communal gardens with a ‘play street’ in the centre.
The interiors can easily be adapted by residents to suit their needs, and the high ceilings make the rooms feel open and spacious. Large windows and doors that lead out to balconies or terraces bring natural light inside.
Victoria Wharf in Notting Hill, UK
The community was at the centre of planning when it came to designing this development in west London. The block of 22 affordable homes, designed by architecture firm Child Graddon Lewis, was built in a derelict site beside the Grand Union Canal in the UK. The aim was to enhance the surrounding area for nearby residents while providing affordable, sustainable homes for local professionals.
The colourful, textured exterior was influenced by the decoration on barge or canal boats, with each flat benefiting from a bright-hued balcony. Other features include a green glazed-brick wall that faces the street, and diamond-patterned sliding aluminium screens along the facade.
The flats were built as lifetime homes with a focus on accessibility. There’s a wheelchair-accessible lift at the main entrance and space for wheelchair turning circles throughout the building, as well as an entry system that’s suitable for people with visual or hearing impairments.
Your turn
Which features do you admire about these developments? Share your thoughts in the Comments below and like this story. Join the conversation.
More
Keen to peruse more award-winning homes? Take a look at The Design-Led Residences That Won Home of the Year Awards
The community was at the centre of planning when it came to designing this development in west London. The block of 22 affordable homes, designed by architecture firm Child Graddon Lewis, was built in a derelict site beside the Grand Union Canal in the UK. The aim was to enhance the surrounding area for nearby residents while providing affordable, sustainable homes for local professionals.
The colourful, textured exterior was influenced by the decoration on barge or canal boats, with each flat benefiting from a bright-hued balcony. Other features include a green glazed-brick wall that faces the street, and diamond-patterned sliding aluminium screens along the facade.
The flats were built as lifetime homes with a focus on accessibility. There’s a wheelchair-accessible lift at the main entrance and space for wheelchair turning circles throughout the building, as well as an entry system that’s suitable for people with visual or hearing impairments.
Your turn
Which features do you admire about these developments? Share your thoughts in the Comments below and like this story. Join the conversation.
More
Keen to peruse more award-winning homes? Take a look at The Design-Led Residences That Won Home of the Year Awards
Nature and sustainability were important factors when it came to regenerating a brownfield site in Tottenham Hale, north-east London, to create a waterside eco-village.
The concept was inspired by the Hammarby Sjöstad district in Stockholm, Sweden, a lakeside development that focuses heavily on the use of ecosystems, the protection of local wildlife, and sustainability. At Hale Village, signs lead residents to open areas and rooftop gardens as well as shops and other facilities.
The homes themselves were designed in a way that doesn’t differentiate between the various types of tenure, the aim being to create an inclusive community. They all benefit from large windows and balconies, which look out to the green spaces below.
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