RESPECTING LOCAL CONTEXT

Designing housing that relates to the local context is difficult to achieve and this is why it is rarely done well. Most people think that new housing is poorly designed and this is one of the main reasons locals object, as they fear it will decrease the value of the existing environment. We focus on understanding the context in order to capture what is distinctive and what defines its character.

SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE

Flood risk is an increasing threat. Some developers bury drainage under ground. We make water an asset and weave retention ponds and open water swales into the housing layout.

NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS

Artificial building materials do not weather well and look worse over time when compared to natural materials. Locally or regionally sourced natural materials have the advantages of supporting the local economy and ease of sourcing in future for repairs and refurbishment. People instinctively prefer the look and feel of natural materials.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Climate change remains a key driver of planning policy and housing design. Energy needs of the new housing should be minimised in the first place by adopting a ‘fabric first’ approach which focuses on high levels of insulation and air tightness in the building construction.

WALKING AND CYCLING

The dominance of car parking and over engineered roads add cost to a housing development and can exacerbate drainage issues. It is difficult to design spaces that feel intimate and special. We focus on accommodating cars and parking in a way that is less intrusive and we make it easy to walk and cycle through our schemes.

LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE

Many existing and new housing developments suffer through lack of imagination and quality of the landscape and setting. We work closely with landscape specialists to carefully conceive meaningful designs for the open space that respond to the context of the site and consider how it will enhance the quality of life of the people who use it.

This can also create cost savings by retaining areas of interest set aside to remain wild which is also great for biodiversity. By combining this approach with our drainage expertise, we turn practical requirements into value- enhancing features.

LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND COMMUNITY GARDENING

There is a growing demand by people for space to grow their own food. The traditional allotment still has it’s place but there is also a demand for larger communal growing plots where the work is shared. The biodiversity benefits of harvesting fruits from orchards and planting wild flowers are obvious.

NATURE AND WELL-BEING

Opportunities will exist for the new housing to be built around existing natural features. We have all been losing our instinctive connection to the natural world over recent years with the growth in technology and the digital revolution. Our projects are designed to allow people to reconnect to the natural environment at every opportunity.

BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE

A ploughed field in intensive agricultural use is a relative ecological desert, compared to a housing estate with well-conceived landscaping and open space. The natural assets of a site form the background to the overall master plan and ensure the habitats that exist are retained.