Harlow Essex materials

© Paul Riddle

+40

© Paul Riddle

From the architect. Alison Brooks Architects approached Galliford Try Partnership in May 2007 to develop a schematic masterplan and land bid at the Newhall development, South Chase Lot 3. The site brief was based on the Newhall Regulating plan with a minimum 78 units of housing including, villas, terraces and apartment buildings. Following a successful tendering process in September 2007 Galliford Try and ABA were selected to develop the site. The resulting development consists of 84 units across four building types; 5 Apartment buildings; 14 Villas; 29 Courtyard Houses and 7 Terraced Houses totalling 84 units, 26% of which are affordable.

© Paul Riddle

ABA's masterplan responds to the site’s Design Code as well as Lot 3's prominent corner location on the South Chase site, but offered a denser urban formatbased on a new typology of terraced patio houses. After rigorous consultations with Newhall residents, Roger Evans and landowners Will and Jon Moen the planning application submitted December 2007. There were no objections to the submission and planning consent was granted16th March 2007

ABA’s approach to the masterplan integrates a mix of new and familiar house typologies in a highly efficient masterplan to maximize internal living space and flexibility for individual homes. The scheme’s geometric and material consistency was inspired by the powerful roof forms and simple materials of Essex’s rural buildings. ABA has utilised these geometries to bring light into terraced courtyards, allow rooms in the roof, permit oblique views to the landscape beyond the site, and to introduce a sculptural rhythm to the scheme’s streetscapes. All housing types incorporate covered porches; central stair halls; roof terraces; Juliette balconies and cathedral ceilings. Loft spaces are either finished or can be retrofitted by homebuyers as additional bedrooms. Ground floor studies in all houses both animate the street and help bring economic activity to the suburban development.

All houses at Newhall Lot 3 are constructed using prefabricated timber cassettesabove a beam and block ground floor. This panelised, truss-free system permitted 'room in the roof' construction so houses can expand into the attic space. Complete watertight houseswere erected in two days. A simple palette of materials brings consistency and coherence to the scheme – FSC-rated, pressure treated Siberian Larch; Cembrit natural slates; Protec Composite Windows and simple steel railings. Ground floor porcelain tiled floors provide thermal mass for underfloor and passive solar heating.

Site Plan

The courtyard houses are a radical reconfiguration of typical long and narrow 5m x 20m terraced house plot to a 9.5mx10.5m plot. This square plot permits a very wide house footprint, T-shaped with courtyard spaces or ‘outdoor rooms’ that interlock with kitchen/dining and living rooms. A covered front porch creates a important semi-public threshold between the house front door and the street’s shared surfaces. Inside, a very generous central hall creates a sense of spaciousness. A large 1st floor roof terrace above the kitchen captures afternoon sunlight. Master bedrooms have cathedral ceilings and the 3 bed versions have a generous loft bedroom.