Riverside Mill takes its inspiration from the past. The
site lies on the edge of Antrim town centre along
the Six Mile Water River and within a conservation
area. Although the site is not prominent, architect Des
Ewing saw potential in the fact that the only buildings
adjoining the site are distinctive terraces of houses in
the conservation area.
The site once housed an eighteenth century mill, but it
is the mill houses of the terraces that gave the
scheme its character. The scheme, for developer
Alburn, draws the detail of its windows, doors, chimneys and paint colours from elements of the
understated conservation area. The
restricted palette of materials,
textures and proportions gives the scheme a
distinctive feel of Antrim, and a strong sense of place.
The main apartment block is a contemporary take on
an old mill block, while the remainder of the scheme
takes its scale from the adjacent traditional buildings.
The scheme comprises 106 homes, including 17
house and apartment types, ranging from one
bedroom apartments to three bedroom semidetached
houses.
The developer has retained the main features of the
site, such as the mature trees on the bank of the
river, and these now form a riverside park. High quality
planting has been used throughout to create focal
entrances and key public spaces. Aged cobble style
paving has also been used in deference to the
character of the area.
The developer says its objective was to avoid the
uniformity of most modern housing developments.
The scheme's respect for its environment and
historical backdrop was recognized by the planners,
as the scheme won detailed planning consent in 10
months. |
