Crompton StreetGarden Suites
Lungfish Architects are exclusively working with Bildoo, a private developer that specialises in offsite construction, to support them in their mission to help solve the UK’s housing crisis. Bildoo is an impact investor who, through innovative and sustainable design, are working with local authorities and housing associations to develop a new generation of desirable and affordable modern homes. Through the creation of new communities, their aim is to radically change and improve the social impact of the more traditionally built developments.
On an unassuming residential street, a stone’s throw from Derby’s city centre, was a private client wanting to extend their current house of multiple occupancy. Bildoo approached Lungfish because of our extensive experience within modular, offsite design, and together, we’ve created a unique retreat which is perfect for short-term let.
Sector
Residential
Services
Architecture
Status
Completed May 2020
Client
Bildoo
Location
Derby
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About the Project
Working towards the client’s modular brief and timescales, our team applied our existing knowledge gained from the delivery of modular education buildings and tailored it to a residential environment. The layout needed to consider the shared spaces, impact on the neighbours and garden, as well as the individual apartment’s amenities, to ultimately provide a sustainable and efficient solution.
The city centre location, doubled with a cul-de-sac street, meant that close collaboration and liaison with the city council, highways teams and neighbouring residents months before the modules were due to land onsite was essential.
Our solution
Working closely with modular manufacturer, Ideal Building Solutions, and the wider design team, we took inspiration from the pattern book of apartment types to identify and design the correct solution. Making use of the property’s large rear garden, our team designed a two separate one-bed, en-suite dwellings. Utilising the efficiencies afforded from an L-shape footprint, the garden pods were built out of just two modules.
The modular approach rapidly enhanced the programme timing, with the two modules craned over the house and into position in just a few hours. Through forward planning and information shared with neighbouring residents the road was closed, outside of rush hour, keeping local traffic and disruption to a minimum. Intermittent timings of the lorries leaving the factory was also essential in order to not block the surrounding roads – including the city’s inner ring road.
Outcomes
With an overall footprint of 49.6m2, access to the two pods is separate from the main house, along a staggered garden path. Opening from a shared, welcoming and light porch area, both apartments are finished to a high quality and feature a modern décor. Double beds, vast storage and workspace units, split the room into clearly defined zones, with a spacious en-suite shower room, a kitchenette area the other side of the module. Whilst the two dwellings are able to function independently, occupants also have access to the larger facilities in the house including a shared kitchen and living room.
The garden itself benefits from sunshine all day-round, meaning that the large floor to ceiling windows alongside LED lighting with automatic controls and daylight dimming, maximise the use of natural light throughout.
A green roof has also been incorporated on top of the apartments, providing thermal mass, sound insulation and to aid surface water attenuation. Additionally, once established, it will complement the view from neighbouring properties and add to the local biodiversity – even on such a small scale.
Whilst kitted out to the top specifications, and perfect for short-term rentals for professionals, this concept is now being used in discussions with housing associations, local authorities and homeless charities.
