Oxford Road
Residential New-Build
Oxford Road is a hidden brownfield site located near Gypsy Hill in a mixed suburban area of terraced houses and low-rise flats. Whilst working at Coffey Architects I was project lead on the delivery of 9 market sale homes, of which there are 8 flats and a 3 bedroom house, each with elevated terraces or courtyard gardens.
Neighbourliness & Privacy
With difficult boundary constraints and a 2.5m difference in level across the site, the challenge was to design a suitable development that would feel safe, open and community oriented. All ground floor flats are thus designed with a kitchen facing the entrance route to provide a passive surveillance and to share a friendly smile with a passing neighbour whilst washing the dishes.
Identity
A courtyard massing typology was developed with stacking flats to resolve issues of overlooking and private amenity space. Alternating single and two storey forms break up the mass of the block to mitigate any negative impact to daylight or sunlight levels to nearby properties.
To create welcoming homes, a modulation of material and colour to all facades was developed in consultation with Croydon Council. Taking inspiration from traditional colour compositions and aesthetics, the facades are clad in changing sequence of materials on lower and upper levels, in a unique palette of coloured aluminium and zinc cladding with built-in concrete planters. A subtle variation in material and colour provides a sense of individuality to each home whilst creating a strong connection to shared path leading down the site.
Sustainable Design
Oxford Road achieves a 19% reduction in regulated carbon dioxide emissions. Built in a timber frame construction, its embodied carbon is considerably lower than equivalent masonry, concrete or steel construction. A set of light-weight, pre-fabricated wall and cladding panels are designed for expedient installation on site, thus shortening the construction programme and operational carbon during this phase.
With a highly efficient thermal envelope, the operational carbon of this development will be significantly less than many new build homes. This new development will also provide a net gain in biodiversity, adding 6 new trees on site with low level concrete planters which drain directly into a sustainable drainage system.
Project Information
Client : Brick by Brick
Location : Croydon, London
Completion : Autumn 2020
Value : £2.5 million
No. of Homes : 9
G.I.A. : 592 sqm
Contractor : Buxtons Building Contractors
Structural Engineer : WFBA, Kingspan
MEP Consultant : Blu Electrical
Facade Subcontractor : Bridgehill
Landscape Architect : Landscape Projects
Fire : Zeta