It is perhaps ironic that the winning site in this
category was formerly occupied by the 1990
National Garden Festival, although the gardens had
long gone by the time George Wimpey North East
acquired the abandoned site. Wimpey gave design
champion Wayne Hemmingway the chance to make
his mark on housing design here, and designer and
developer worked with architect Ian Darby Partnership
and landscape architect Glen Kemp to create a
playground for children and adults alike.
The landscape architects took the lead in master
planning the external spaces, applying home zone
design principles throughout. The result is a well
supervised public realm that operates at a more intimate human scale in which pedestrians have priority.
The scheme's distinct character is enhanced by the
incorporation of bespoke timber street furniture,
including tables and chairs, and woven willow
structures such as communal bin stores, all
constructed by a local craftsman. The soft landscape
framework uses hedges for enclosure and native or
naturalistic species as much as possible. These
provide an attractive setting to hard landscaping
elements and striking architectural elevations, and
ensure seasonal change and local biodiversity are
celebrated.
Rather than predefine how space should be used, a
robust framework to the external environment allows
residents to use space as they wish. A central design
principle was that good quality play opportunities
should be deeply engrained within the landscape. All
external space has become potential play space for
old and young alike, creating a more dynamic street
scene.
Residents have direct access to a communal garden
via their back garden. These contain bespoke
structures that residents can use as they wish: for
chatting, play or a barbecue. Shared spaces serve to
engender a sense of ownership and communal
identity that is critical within a sustainable
neighbourhood.
Sustainable living extends to the specification of a
garden shed for every garden and clear links to a
riverside cycle route. Staiths South Bank now proudly
boasts a cycle pool of ten shared bicycles. |
