Viewfield Housing, Ayr Building, Ayrshire Property, Scottish Residential Design Image
Viewfield Housing : Ayr Homes
Residential Development Ayrshire, south west Scotland – design by Austin-Smith:Lord Architects
23 Jul 2010
Viewfield Housing Ayr
Design: Austin-Smith:Lord Architects
New Housing in Ayr
The ‘L’ shaped site lies between the area of 4 storey flats known locally as White City to the west and an old industrial area on the railway line on the east. The area, an unused car park is covered in blacktop. The south leg of the ‘L’ is not capable of built development as it is in the route of a major town sewer. The north leg of the ‘L’ has an electricity substation and a major electricity route on its eastern boundary. There is also a known mine shaft just beyond the north-west corner of the site.
Ayr Homes design by Austin-Smith:Lord
image © Keith Hunter
Development therefore had to avoid mine shaft, electricity cable and main sewer. This left a narrow strip down the middle on the northern leg of the ‘L’ for building. The remainder is suitable for roads, parking, gardens and landscaping. The surrounding architectural context is 4 storey white buildings.
The design of this new development reflects the current context but the concentrated areas of glass to circulation areas and living space will enhance the activity of the area whilst offering passive surveillance of what is currently an unsupervised area. The brief was for a mix of 1, 2 and 4 bedroom dwellings for 2, 4 and 7 persons respectively.
The design solution is to provide the 1 and 2 bedroom dwellings in four storey and six storey flats with the 4 bedroom dwellings in the form of two and a half storey terraced houses. The focal point is created at the north entrance to the development with the protecting glass stair tower of the lift access six storey flats. The development is terminated at the south end with four storey walk up flats.
Between the six storey and the four storey flats are the two and a half storey terraced houses. The terraced houses and ground floor flats have private gardens while the upper flats have shared garden space, both accommodate bin storage.
Car parking for both flats and houses is shared on street parking adjacent to the house/flat entrance. Visitor car parking and amenity landscaping is provided the south section of the ‘L’ shape. Accommodation 4: 7 Person, 4 Bedroom, Terraced House 28: 4 Person, 2 Bedroom, Flat 12: 2 Person, 1 Bedroom, Flat Materials Flat Roofs: Dark Grey Membrane House Roof: Dark Grey Concrete Tile Flat Walls: White Render House Walls: White Render Boundary/Plot Walls: White Render Road and Paths: Grey Concrete Block
images © Keith Hunter
Sustainability
The external envelope was insulated well above building regulation standard. This together with efficient boilers and compact development is the main energy saving strategy. Reclaimed aggregate and timber from sustainable sources was used. Excess excavated material from the existing car park was used as the base to form the landscaped sculptural mounds to the south leg of the site. Residents have good access to both bus and rail public transport.
Viewfield Housing – Building Information
Architects: Austin-Smith:Lord LLP Authority: South Ayrshire Council Structural & Civil Engineers: Scott Wilson Quantity Surveyor: Poole Dick Associates CDM Co-ordinator/Planning Supervisor: CDM (Scotland) Ltd Contractor: Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd Client/Project Manager: Ayrshire Housing
Viewfield Housing – Award Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2010: Social Housing Development of the Year
Viewfield Housing images / information from Keith Hunter / Austin-Smith:Lord Austin-Smith:Lord
Location: Ayr, Scotland
Architecture in Scotland
Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list
Recent Buildings by Austin-Smith:Lord
Roseisle distillery, Speyside, Scotland, UK
Roseisle distillery
People’s History Museum, Manchester, England
People’s History Museum
Scottish Buildings
Contemporary Architecture in south west Scotland – architectural selection below:
The Old Courthouse, Rothesay : Isle of Bute
Design: Collective Architecture
Old Courthouse Rothesay. 17 Nov
HALO Masterplan in Kilmarnock, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Southwest Scotland
Architects: Keppie Design
image courtesy of architects
HALO Masterplan Kilmarnock
Comments / photos for the Viewfield Housing – Residential Development Ayr Scotland Architecture design by Austin-Smith:Lord Architects page welcome