Narford Road project
© Tim Crocker Photography

Affordable housing complex completed in Hackney

Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects as Architects

Sites for new affordable housing are often challenging; in creating 62 high quality new homes for One Housing Group, Fraser Brown MacKenna had to overcome a complex, overlooked, landlocked former industrial site in Hackney. We were appointed by One Housing Group to develop the former light-industrial site. The brief was to maximise the number of high quality homes, providing not only affordable housing but also a care and support facility for residents with mild learning disabilities. Our challenge was to deliver the requirements of the brief within the complex geometry of the site whilst minimising impact on the surrounding homes. A backland site with minimal street frontage, we arranged the new homes around two courtyards; Saxony Court is accessed from Geldeston Road with access to the larger Hazlitt Court from Northwold Road. We located Salvesen House, the care and support facility along Narford Road. Buildings range in height from one to four storeys and are orientated so to minimise impact on the surrounding homes. A range of strategies have been used to prevent overlooking, including solar and privacy shading using timber screens, the use of high level and carefully orientated windows.


The landscape, by MESH Landscape Architects, is critical to the success of the development – soft landscaping including trees, shrubs and climbing plants will in time create a green oasis within each of the courtyards, enhancing the spatial quality of the development and creating a natural buffer to the surrounding gardens. On Northwold Road, a gatehouse announces the entrance to the largest courtyard, expressed in a dark grey brick in contrast to the surrounding terrace. The ground floor provides vehicular access for the two wheelchair accessible apartments only – the development is entirely car free. The majority of homes are clad in light brick and timber; providing a subtle and natural outlook from the surrounding homes. The development, designed by Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects and MESH Landscape Architects, provides sixty two new apartments, including an eighteen bedroom care and support facility and gained planning permission in March 2010. The new homes were built under a design and build contract, let to Mullaley, and were completed in 2012.


PROJECT DETAILS:


Architects: Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects Location: Hackney, E5 8RD Type Of Project: 62 new homes Structural Engineers: n/a Project Architect: Simon Fraser, Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects Design Team: Siu Pei Choi & Johan Swanepoel, Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects Client: One Housing Group Funding: Part private funds part HCA grant Tender date: July 2010 Start on site date: January 2011 Contract duration: 18 months Gross internal floor area: 5,000 sqm. Site: 0.32 ha Form of contract and/or procurement: Partnering contract Total cost: £6,509,800 Quantity surveyor: BPP Construction Consultants Planning supervisor: BPP Construction Consultants Main contractor: Mullaley and Company Limited Selected subcontractors and suppliers: Landscape – MESH Partnership Annual co2 emissions: Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3

Products Behind Projects
Product Spotlight
News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert
18 Mar 2024 News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert

Mumbai-based Sanjay Puri Architects has completed the Nokha Village Community Centre, an architectur... More

Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024
15 Mar 2024 News
Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024

In this Archello series, we look at each of the seven nominated projects (five architecture finalist... More

25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers
15 Mar 2024 Specification
25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers

Mosaic wall tiles are produced in an enormous range of colors, shapes and finishes, and from a varie... More

Introducing Partner Motion Facades
15 Mar 2024 Partner News
Introducing Partner Motion Facades

Motion Facades specializes in supplying advanced facade systems for luxury real estate projects. Its... More

Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel
15 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel

Architects Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores have been an... More

JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements
14 Mar 2024 News
JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements

International architectural firm JSWD has completed the Neuer Kanzlerplatz office complex in the cit... More

Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'
14 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'

Today Archello introduces a new set of Firm Awards categories to widen the scope of the Archello Awa... More

Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes
13 Mar 2024 News
Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes

London-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice Studio Egret West has developed plan... More