SHAKING UP SHELTERED HOUSING ID areqoen Why Koysut pore wrantelcte Peon eLormr-nxel ected sheltered-housing scheme, making it the kind.of thoughtful building this sector needs, says Rory Olcayto. Photography yA PI RCTs“The sheltered-housing sector in the UK is hardly brimming with design exemplars. doubt you can name a single development that has inspired you, les sil cite the craftsmanship ofa particular scheme ~regard- less of aesthetics and form ~as evidence ofthe care that buildings i this sector require. Why shoulda sector that serves the more vulnerable members of our society ~ the eed, people with learning disabilities —be subjected to the ‘most banal, unimaginative, pastche-reliant architecture the profession ean muster? ‘CABE doesn't seem bothered ether (On its website, no publications specifi © sheltered housing ae listed, no specific ase studies archived and no design guidance offered Given that the UK’s population is ageing, with 16 pe cent now over the age 0f 65, the housing and wellbeing of elderly people has never been more topical. But architects, it seems, dont get exited about designing sheltered housing So when pictures of Yew Tree Lodge ~ asheltered-housing scheme in Ruislip, “Middlesex, completed late last year~landed inthe AJ's in-tay, I was intrigued, Here was two-storey building for 12 residents with learning dificultes, fashioned slmost entirely from brick, detailed in sophisticated and clegant manner, with a clear compositional logic. This looked like a building that Duggan Mortis Architects (DMA) was actully eacited about designing. How this up-and- coming London practice became involved with the projet its frst completed building, is equally encouraging, especially for young practices eager to showease their talent. In 2006, Look Ahead Housing and Care, registered socal landlord (RSL) that provides ‘vulnerable customer’ with high- > DMA has redefined Yew Tree Lodge as a crisp brick volume 28 Ajo20409Yew Tree Lodge, Ruislip, Middlesex, by Duggan Morris Architects Left Duggan Moris has brought a staggored window layout to the elevations ‘Above An shaped ‘rangement was defined by the previous, BPTW- ‘signed scheme ‘Above right The plan provides a double- height oc atthe comer of ‘Aj02.0409 »Yew Tree Lodge, Ruislip, Middleses, by Duggan Morris Arc another job: Yew Tree Lodge ‘At first, DMA co-director Joe Moris was sceptical. Look Ahead was ofering 8 post-planning commission: BPTW Architects ‘a much larger London practice commissioned directly by Hillingdon Borough Council had already worked up approved designs forthe scheme. We could tell fom the planning- permission drawings that we would have to deal with a local authority with a very traditional outlook. We were concerned that we would struggle, says Mori Following discussions with the client and the councils planners, DMA agreed to progress the project on the basis that i could reapprsise BPTW' scheme. The council agreed, and sid any changes would be dealt ‘with ae variations. A legal commitment with the client to deliver the scheme by an agreed date ruled out a revised planning application. In ‘RSL land’, as Duggan puts i, this process is normal. Usually, a scheme is commissioned by the local authority, then an RSL bide for the approved projec but brings in ite own designers to carry it through to completion. Morris is being polite when he refers to the planning-approved design as'radtional’ Indeed, both Duggan and Mortis were reluctant to discuss the BPTW project at all, other than the changes they wrought out oft. BPTW's design uncovered on Hillingdon's online planning portal and ported on the AJ's ‘website (wwewarchitectsjournal.co.uk) is typical ofthe standard this sector has set itelfThe elevations are a hotchpotch of render brick and timber cladding. Bay windows are mean and clunky, and split down the middle so that each i shared by to room. ‘The only nod to the site's immediate context ~the Grade I-sted Highgrove House, directly opposite ~ are roof tiles matching Edward Schroeder Prior's 19th-eentuy pile. I dont blame BPTW for its lacklustre approach the frm was commissioned to stage only and its prime objective was to secure planning, which i did with relative eae. 1 suspect the planning department guided [BPTW, an award-winning housing practice with far beter work in its portfolio, towards the ‘traditional’ design it produced, [DMA hat taken thie chem, stripped i of ‘extraneous fippery and redefined i as a crisp, homogenous brick volume with elegant, thoughtful detailing and aesthetic nods to BIQ Architect’ Bluecoat Arts Centre (2008) in Liverpool and NORD's Bell Simpson 30 House (2004) in Stilingshire, DMA has ‘omitted the timber and render fom the ‘xiginal elevations and specified a bespoke ‘wick mix ~ Highgrove blend by Banbury Bricks. The practice has aso imposed a staggered glazing layout, and made the ‘windows hush withthe brickwork on theres clevation; refined the bx bay window dewils and removed sills to make the glazing fall-height created a hipped rof junction, meaning one less gable and a more legible rear elevation; and incorporated recessed gutters to create giant shadow-gap, faring the clay tiles on quite a large expanse of oof ‘Ofeoune, the recessed guter caused a fuss ‘with the planners ~"They expected black UPVC; says Duggan and with the builders too, because it was ‘out ofhis comfort zone, meaning more expensive. So although it was built, the quoin brick coping detail tht DMA ‘wanted is actualy a strip of powder-coated aluminium. I looks okay, bu ita source of feusteation to Morss."You have to compro- mise, bu its one of those things you just keep looking t and thinking.."he says. “The compulsory grass landscaping atthe entrance ofthe building and in font ofthe partments has been hardened up with more brick Moris sys he wanted the texture of the walls to fold over on to the ground, and, indeed it extends inside to the reception, where quary tiles by Dennis Ruabon Tiles lend a eool arto the double-heighe space (another DMA innovation on the orginal plan). Here, the walls have been painted ‘mustard yellow, and light bulbs hang down on long eables from the ceiling two lors above. lesa bitharsh onthe eye, andthe patter applied tothe glazing in this area isan ‘AutoCAD lift of the brick-mortar-joint layout, masquerading as omamentation. In plan, the apartments have been ‘optimised, DMA has introduced a spayed wall to the hallway (the minimum area of which is defined by a wheelchair turing circle), giving some space back tothe kitchen. “The bay windows is centred inthe living room, forming a seating area with framed >> The local authority was obstructive to changes, even saying it wanted a ‘mediocre’ building ‘AJ0204.09AJ 02.04.09 Let and fa et The windows atemate betwaen fish implied and refined from the hotchpotch ofthe exiting planing permission 31Yew Tree Lodge, Ruislip, Middlesex, by Duggan Morsis Architects reception, again simply ‘and minimal detaled Below Cross sections ‘ofthe aparments, and through the reception 32 Aj02.04.09AJ02.04.09Yew Tre Lodge, Ruislip, Middlesex, by Duggan Morsis Architects views. The boiler hs been relocated to the wheelchair store in the hal, while the ‘common room has been moved from the front elevation tothe ear and given & south-facing terrace Despite initial support from the planners, DMA says the whole experience was pretty rough!'The firm found the local authority increasingly obstructive tothe changes it propoted. "At one point, aye Mori, "the chief urban designer stated they wanted a “mediocre” building! Instead, Hillingdon. Borough Council gota pretty good one. It ‘wont blow you away, and it's not going to win the Stirling Prize but it sete a decent standard ina sector laid low on its design knees. BPTW's scheme wat a chaotic compromise forged from a rollout specification that hadnt ‘been questioned in years, plu a fruitlest ‘commissioning process that meant the frm ‘was not invested inthe cheme’s outcome. [DMAs building, on the other hand, is competent and coherent, and its plan, section and elevation are legibly interelated. ‘Nowadays, DMA keepe an eye on RSLs, part ofits ‘ecesson-busting’ approach to finding work. "You have to look beyond the initialscheme and the fat you are inheriting other people’ thinking, and begin to see the benefit the process can bring, says Moris. SL-backed projects give young practices the chance to take on duff designs and wise them up. Follow DMA% lead ~sheltered housing needs design champions. ‘Start onsite date November 20077 Contract duration 12 months Gross internal floor area 1,190m? Form of contract NEC Option C: target contact with activity schedule Total cost $2.1 mition Client Look Ahead Housing and Care [Architect Ouggan Moris Architects Structural engineer Michael Hadi Associates MAE coneuitant ADJ Design Project manager/quantity surveyor/planning ‘supervisor Appleyard and Tiew ‘Sustainability consultant ECD Project Senicos Main contractor Durkan Bricks Banbury Bricks {Internal quarry ties and sills Ruabon Steelwork subcontractor Supreme roerat ‘Annual CO, omissions 13,162kg 4 Sa AJ02.04.09Aj02.04.09 35“The design philosophy for this project focused on a constrained palette of materials, with emphasis. onthe accuracy and execution of| material interfaces landscape, windows, bricks and rof es. ‘The building is rigorously setout toa fll brick module in stretcher bond, and, subsequently, the postion of windows, bays and door is set within a similar logic. “The colourand tonal range of the ‘materials palette, in which bricks, sills and tes closely match, ‘ensures aspecific reading of the building a one of solidity “This is further enhanced by aligning the windows flush to the face of the brickwork, Similaly,a recessed gutter is constructed ‘within the roof, rather than mounted ina more traditional ‘way onthe face of the building below expressed eaves. Incontrastto this flush aesthetic, projecting bay windows are incorporated tothe living rooms atthe frst floor, framing ‘views out on to the landscape. ‘These window have steel frames clamped to the building face, finished witha continuous skin of steel and laminated to timber subframe, The windows within the bays ae pulled to the leading ‘edge, and the surrounding lashing material is coloured to ‘atch the steel laminate, keeping the detailing simple and clan, “The residents of Yew Tree Lodge are making the fllest use ‘of there cantilevered window, personalising them with treasured artefacts and ornaments. ‘Mary Duggan, co-director, Diggon Morris drcbitects 36 -AJ02.0409Yew Tree Lodge, Ruislip, Middlesex, by Duggan Mortis Architects Monowermc bck GaRter) 14 Beckton (Mtatertanece Dae ai tae 2. Meaing 15. Bagge 3 Station sere ick ony, per 4. Scedepping SS Prcedponte’ — KEYFOR 8 Gowndteer’ SECTION GERD | biiap 1. Pestana bck tooig 3. 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