The Gardens has been designed by architect Penoyre & Prasad to meet the needs of Stamford Hill’s Orthodox Jewish community. Agudas Israel Housing Association developed the 26 homes, half of which are for social rent and half for shared ownership. Each home has up to ten bed spaces, and is designed with a suitable outdoor area where residents can build a sukkah, or hut-like structure, for the Festival of Sukkot in October. For this purpose, therefore, every home is provided with either a terrace, balcony or garden, with terraces and balconies staggered or set back from one another to ensure that they are open to the sky, as this is a requirement for sukkah construction. Because The Gardens is occupied by extended families and has a close knit community extra value has been placed on external spaces for informal socialising. Care has been taken to retain and feature existing trees, and a central, car-free courtyard space gives the development its heart. A mature tree is the focal point of the courtyard, complemented by further planting and a series of low walls that provides opportunities for sitting and resting. The unusual triangular shape of the site required a complex site layout and spatial solution, with the new buildings being located towards the perimeter to create enclosure within and around the site. Entry to the site is via the archway of an existing building, and past a terrace of three five bedroom family houses. A mix of apartments and maisonettes surround the courtyard. The blocks are clad in two contrasting colours and textures of brick, with coloured glass panels giving homes a sense of individuality. Protruding balconies and slatted balustrades add an additional layer of fine detail. The design meets Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 and features rooftop photovoltaic panels. |
