The Architect’s Journal features a 195-unit Eco-Village, designed by Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for the South Gloucester market. The development has everything, including a cafe and a creche (a bit too BF Skinner for me, but whatever) and a set of carbon neutral homes.
The part of this that makes me a bit sad is that while it’s a great idea, of course, the actual building designs are unattractive. Now, maybe it’s just me, and maybe I don’t understand the light and the context of the area (I’ve never been there), but I really wish architects would apply a vision to the available technology. Everybody thinks these innovations are a good idea; why can’t they be beautiful as well?
Too many of the housing developments in the UK labelled ecologically/environmentally sustainable or carbon neutral place little emphasis on architectural integrity, if any at all. With suggestions last year that to achieve the Government’s environmental targets for homes (Level 6 – Carbon Neutral development) will add a further £47,000 to the price of the average sized home (which now has a floor area smaller then that of Tokyo new builds -RIBA), I anticipate that good design will suffer further. If there are any corners left to cut….
Recently the Government offered £millions to housing associations with the instruction that they should buy up thousands of unsold units which would, they hoped, boost house sales, clear the backlog and provide more social housing. However, the HAs refused the offer stating that privately built homes didn’t meet their criteria and many levels including design and floor area.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has more on this and I’ve been Twittering on about this also. Just another reason to loathe large property developers!