The Association is delighted to be short listed as finalists in two categories at the Herald Property Awards for Scotland. Alongside Collective Architecture for our new housing development on the grounds of the former Lockerbie Academy:
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Best Regeneration Project – Residential
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Affordable Housing Development Of The Year
Winners will be awarded at the awards ceremony which takes place on Thursday 29th September.
Collective Architecture was asked by Cunninghame Housing Association to develop proposals for reasonably priced homes. They are on a key brownfield area north of Lockerbie town centre, previously home to Lockerbie Academy.
Like many similar sized towns, Lockerbie needed a significant increase in terms of high-quality housing. The aim was to develop a variety of house types and sizes which cater for the needs of the community. The final design includes forty-five new homes for social rent. They are a mix of semi-detached and terraced two storey housing, alongside cottage flats and amenity bungalows.
BUILDING COMMUNITIES IN DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
The Collective Architecture team approached the development with a dual strategy of stitching into the existing settlement. They aim to form a new sweeping crescent to maximise a shared street space. The layout fills the gaps in the previously fragmented Glasgow Road, through the introduction of a series of terraced blocks. The development finishes Dryfe Road to the new Lockerbie Academy/Primary School campus through the introduction of two new semi-detached blocks. They match the character of their neighbours. The creation of the new crescent street at the centre of the site gives, long views and pedestrian connections. The former Victorian school will be developed for new community uses.
The site strategy and layout take cues from the surrounding urban fabric, architectural character, and local housing types. The housing now sits within their context as a contemporary interpretation of the local housing stock. Elevations make use of a series of familiar architectural elements, namely bays, dormer windows, chimneys, and eaves. This combination of elements forms a recognisable and contextually respectful domestic architecture.
Simple architectural devices such as the dormers and chimneys are used to gables and street elevations to create distinct corners. The use of a limited house types increase repetition with placement of cottage-flats to terrace ends giving two fronts.
The buildings complement the existing context using a balanced palette which reflects the local use of stone and slate. It used contemporary building technologies. A single, red, facing brick was used to closely reflect the local Locharbriggs sandstone. It creates homes with a sense of weight and permanence that are suitable for the richness of the stone-built counterparts. A strong sense of depth is created by bays and porches. Overhanging eaves stress the forms and change the buildings character depending on the time of day, month and year.
We worked closely with Collective Architecture and the local community to form a street-scape with a strong sense of character. Collective Architecture referenced and evoked the familiar, qualities of the high-quality public housing built in Scotland in the 1900’s. A palette of repeating elements, a development has been created which both improves the character of the communities-built environment. As well as improving the quality of life for new residents.