Our Role

We were the Passivhaus Designer/Consultant for this development completed in 2022. It consists of 50 rooms and communal spaces for homeless people as a stepping stone to independent living.

The values of HARP aligned well with our own and the Passivhaus approach is perfect for this use; it delivers very low running costs for the charity and a healthy, warm home for their occupants - providing exceptional social value.

The constraints on the site meant that dormer windows were a must, a difficult detail to do well. Understanding and feeding back what details are likely to be difficult to construct or add cost to a scheme is a critical part of our role, allowing the client to better control the project through informed decisions. In this case, through multiple iterations a solution was found that could be delivered as part of the standard timber frame.

Project Testimonials

"This project makes a considerable civic contribution to the area demonstrating how to make good use of neglected back-land and improving and upgrading existing terraces. The contribution to the lives of the residents is immense."

Awards

Civic Trust Awards 2025 - Regional Finalist

RIBA Stephen Lawrence prize 2024 - Shortlisted

RIBA East Award 2024 - Winner

RIBA East Sustainability Award 2024 - Winner

Photo Credit: Billy Haynes