Housing

Whether for private development of luxury apartments, for affordable social housing, student accommodation or any other, understanding of how people live when the individuals are not to hand to consult is what distinguishes "housing" from private houses. But even within this sector there is considerable variety of categories, each with its own set of parameters and requiring a different approach.

Private Developers

Helping developers to realise the potential of sites both through early feasibility studies and later through attractive, sellable building design is a valuable element of architectural service. The principles of master-planning outlined elsewhere can be highly pertinent to a private housing development. When it comes to the actual building design, we understand the difference between private houses for individual clients, which may be quite individualistic and even quirky, and the speculative private housing market where it is important to cater for more general tastes without letting design be dragged down to the banal.

Because of affordable housing thresholds imposed by planning authorities, where there is a need for social housing within or in connection with a private development we can also help the developer in linking with a suitable RSL to achieve this.

Social Housing

Schemes for RSLs (Registered Social Landlords) or Housing Associations developing social housing (part funded through the Housing Corporation), being intensely controlled by the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and Housing Quality Indicators (HQIs) as well as tight cost restraints, require an additional degree of creativity if the architect is to produce congenial homes rather than 'little boxes'.

Student Housing

The south-west has experienced rapid growth in student numbers in its primary educational centres (notably Exeter, Plymouth, Falmouth), requiring large volumes of student housing to relieve pressure on existing homes in these areas. Working with major contractors and understanding the benefits of systemised or off-site pre-fabrication methods has enabled us to contribute positively to this.