Lewes Road

This major urban site required the development of two distinct residential strategies: a co‑housing scheme of 22 units with shared living, working, and outdoor spaces, and an alternative 12‑unit scheme. Both needed to respond to a dense city‑centre context and complex site constraints. The design drew on the area’s industrial heritage, using simple forms, robust materials and a clear structural rhythm to root the scheme in its surroundings. Communal gardens, terraces and shared rooms were arranged to encourage informal interaction, with circulation routes shaped to feel intuitive while maintaining privacy and good daylight and amenity for all homes. The site brought significant challenges, severely degraded buildings, restricted access, lapsed planning history and difficult utilities. Early feasibility testing and close consultant coordination were essential in shaping viable, buildable proposals for a demanding urban plot.