PRESS RELEASE: Conran & Partners launch affordable new eco-homes in Brighton

A radical new housing scheme has been launched in Brighton. Having acquired the Bevendean site from Brighton & Hove Council, Downland Housing Association, part of the Affinity Sutton group, commissioned Conran & Partners to design a landmark building with a strong sustainable agenda for the area. The new design for the site, an inter-war estate on the edge of the city, comprises 31 flats, for rental or shared ownership, aimed at the city’s key workers. The scheme also includes a much-needed new community centre. The planners, who commended the scheme as ‘ textbook’, gave their consent in June 2006.

The project started on site in September 2005 and is due for completion in Spring 2007. It uses modern methods of construction, in the form of structural insulated panels, and embraces the government-led initiative for the use of off-site manufacturing methods. Throughout, the materials and components were chosen based on their environmental performance over the building’s life and, wherever possible, selected from a renewable local source. The buildings are built from timber on a brick base, with a corner building clad in recycled copper; warm and tactile materials intended to complement their surroundings. The bricks are sourced from a local quarry and the timber, a sweet chestnut, is indigenous to Sussex. Since they can be seen from the distant hills, the roofs were considered as an elevation, this resulting in our choice to plant them, softening their appearance and blending them into their surroundings. Non-native trees will be replaced with semi-mature native species.

Whilst contemporary design can be controversial, this striking proposal intends to make a positive contribution to the character of the area, where a more conservative design approach would add little or nothing. In designing the scheme Conran & Partners took the view that Bevendean deserved innovative new architecture of high quality:

“Our view is that good modern eco-friendly architecture should be available to all sectors of the community,” commented Conran & Partners Director, Paul Zara, “ High quality design is not exclusively for luxury apartment schemes or city centre buildings.”

In the past Brighton & Hove has suffered from a lack of good quality contemporary architecture. Recently this has begun to change. Our scheme allows Bevendean to share in this architectural renaissance with its own exciting new buildings. Bevendean is a forward-looking scheme illustrating that high quality design is not exclusively for luxury apartment schemes or city centre buildings. We hope that the development will make a real difference to the quality of the built environment.

For further information please contact: Paul Zara, Director, Conran & Partners: cp@conranandpartners.com

February 2007

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