Accordia

In Brief

This substantial residential quarter in Cambridge is widely regarded as having set a whole new benchmark for large scale housing in the UK, and was the first housing project to win the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2008.

Our aim has been to produce an exemplary urban environment: a desirable place to live that balances usable private space within an overall structure of high quality public space.

The design includes a variety of innovative house and apartment types in the form of terraces, courtyard houses and ‘setpiece’ apartment buildings, composed within public landscaped gardens that extend to approximately three hectares.

Concept

The aim of the project was to create a desirable place to live that balances usable private space with high quality public space.

Our approach reflects the changing aspirations of modern lifestyles and continues a strong tradition of domestic architecture in Cambridge, creatively blending built form with landscape.

The design replaces traditional gardens with a variety of private open spaces such as courtyards, roof terraces and large balconies. A mixture of house and apartment types weaves into the fabric of these spaces in the form of terraces, courtyard houses and set piece apartment buildings. The scheme also adopts a holistic approach to environmental design, creating a well-rounded and sustainable complex.

Context

The scheme is set in a mature landscape - previously occupied by 1940s low rise government offices - and contains over 700 mature trees. These trees are integrated into landscape consultant, Grant Associates’ designed landscape and communal gardens.

Innovation

“This is high density housing at its very best... An exhilarating project which marked a paradigm shift in British housing”

RIBA Judges, 2008

Space

Our appointment included masterplanning this strategically important brownfield site.

Subsequently this led to us also designing 212 houses and 166 apartments at an overall density of 40 dwellings per hectare. The masterplan proposed enhancements to pedestrian and cycle routes, promoting their use by incorporating landscaped ‘streets’, shared surfaces, and integrated cycle parking for all dwellings. Discreet car parking is also included within each dwelling.

There is rich diversity in the design of the buildings, from the understated simplicity of the layouts to the highly complex two-staircase and scissor-plan stair designs present in some of the dwellings.

Materials

The external materials for the housing comprises mostly of bricks selected to match closely the traditional Cambridge Gault clay bricks, with the apartments constructed from Copper and Green Oak.

Many elements of the buildings were fabricated off site - increasing speed of construction, reducing waste, and improving environmental performance. As they age gracefully, the stock bricks, composite timber and aluminium windows, and all copper and untreated hardwood will require minimal maintenance.

Selected Awards

2008 The RIBA Stirling Prize

2009 RICS East of England Awards: Regeneration Award

2009 Hauser Award: Shortlist

2008 RIBA National Award

2007 Civic Trust Award

2006 Building for Life Awards: Gold Standard

2006 Housing Design Awards: Overall Winner

2006 Housing Design Awards: Medium Housebuilder Winner

2006 National Homebuilder Design Awards: Best Housing Project of the Year

2006 National Homebuilder Design Awards: Best House of three or more storeys

2004 National Homebuilder Design Awards: Project Award

2003 Housing Design Awards: National Project Award

Testimonial

"The values of Accordia are those British cities need more of: a subtly controlling masterplan, a collaborative approach and an eye for both the detail and the big picture in the landscape and the architecture.”

RIBA

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