Project Title: Highwood Court
Location: London
Wood Species: Frame: Spruce. Cladding: Douglas Fir
Product Description
The Project
The contrast from the hustle and bustle of Harlesden High Street to the quiet of the courtyard with its sense of seclusion is marked. By locating an affordable, environmentally-responsible development built using modern methods of construction and in such a central location, SUSD intends to illustrate a new model for city living, nurturing urban communities sustainably, encourages multi-demographic groups and proves that it is possible to attain a feeling of retreat and safety in a busy urban context. The design strategy achieves the objective of building a high-density development in which residents can interact with their neighbours whilst also providing a sense of privacy. SUSD made the decision at the earliest stage not to burden the site, favouring good quality ‘starter homes’ over typically cramped London flats.
Overlooking neighbours is avoided through the orientation of the homes with no windows onto the site boundary. The solution of low-rise density that follows the site’s original horseshoe-shaped groundplan creates a communal atmosphere with the x1 2-bedroom and x8 3-bedroom homes configured like small townhouses arranged around a shared courtyard. The homes are constructed from sustainably-grown, solid spruce timber with Douglas Fir cladding. Details that define the architecture include each home being given its own distinct area and entrance, facades distinguished with varying window patterns and specific cuts into the fabric to create the balconies that face away from the courtyard. Exposing the timber on internal walls celebrates the quality of the natural material and also emphasises the robust construction method adding to notion of feeling cocooned within the home.
Hardwood timber-framed windows and wood flooring were chosen for their ecological benefits but also help position Highwood Court away from many low cost, affordable new homes currently being built in the UK. Design was undertaken by SUSD’s in-house team who the collaborated closely with Becker-Haus (Holzbau Becker & Sohn GmbH, manufacturer of the timber panel system), during the design development phase in order to create the computer model from which the final panels were fabricated. On-site timber construction took place over 4 weeks including glazing, doors and making the structures weather-tight.
The homes are organised over 3 floors with an open staircase, incorporated by raising the platform in the courtyard slightly higher than the ground floor. This provides a sense of openness, an acoustical connection with the bedrooms on the upper and lower-ground floors and a stacked chimney effect, contributing to cross ventilation. The open-plan living and kitchen area is placed at the centre of the house to form a hub, with bedrooms above and below serving to bring in more light and linking the heart of the house more directly with the courtyard. This arrangement also enables both a connection as well as separation from the privacy of the sleeping areas.
BUILDING OWNER: SUSD
ARCHITECT: SUSD
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: KMG PARTNERSHIP
MAIN CONTRACTOR: PHILIAM
JOINERY COMPANY: HOLZBAU BECKER & SOHN GMBH
WOOD SUPPLIER: HOLZBAU BECKER & SOHN GMBH
