Sustainable Project of the Year > architecture awards name best sustainable building > it's all about green infrastucture

There is so much bad housing out there - whether the quality:
More than half of new-build homes in England 'have major faults' | Business | The Guardian
What’s the point of building a million new homes if they’re not fit to live in? | John Harris | Opinion | The Guardian

Or the design:
Why is Britain so terrible at domestic architecture? - Telegraph
Tom Dyckhoff: Britain’s buildings and homes are bad for our health - Telegraph
Ian Nairn warned reckless development would ruin our country | Daily Mail Online

But it is possible to get it right:

AJ ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

York housing scheme by Studio Partington named Sustainable Project of the Year

7 DECEMBER, 2017 BY HATTIE HARTMAN



The ‘exceptional’ Derwenthorpe Phase One housing development in York by Studio Partington has been named best sustainable building at the AJ Architecture Awards

Derwenthorpe stands out as an exceptional exercise in place-making and a rigorous exemplar of sustainable housebuilding. ‘Many elements of the ambitious first phase of this project are easily replicable,’ said the judges.

The new neighbourhood of 64 homes, which represents just 12 per cent of the eventual masterplan, reads as an extension of York, rather than a greenfield build. Green infrastructure lies at the heart of the masterplan, with the open space shaped by flood prevention and landscaping for biodiversity.



The judges observed that, despite a slight tweeness in the architecture, the light-filled homes are notable for their fabric-first approach, pushing boundaries on space standards, dual-aspect living spaces and flexible winter gardens.

Of particular note was the construction of prototype houses to test the design. Extensive post-construction monitoring has informed future phases, currently on site.

Best practice has evolved since Derwenthorpe was conceived almost a decade ago, raising questions about some of the approaches, such as the viability of district heating at low densities and biomass energy centres. Nevertheless, the quality of design and detailing of both the homes and the public realm combined with a robust approach to learning from prototypes make this project a clear winner.



York housing scheme by Studio Partington named Sustainable Project of the Year | News | Architects Journal
.
.
.