Background

This linear, brownfield, sloping site is located on Glenbryn Park in North Belfast. At approximately 0.28Ha the site consisted of grassland; typically used for fly tipping. Japanese knotweed and asbestos, caused by the burning of waste material, had been previously removed from the site area. The surrounding the site is mainly residential in character, with well-established neighbourhoods. The predominant house type being two storey red brick terraced with interspersed bungalows.

Approach

We were appointed by Clanmil in early 2020, following a design concept tender, to deliver eleven 3 bedroom 5-person general needs dwellings and one 3 bedroom 5-person wheelchair accessible bungalow. Our design objective was to create dwellings which satisfactorily resolves the gap in the urban form on this steep sloped site. The simplistic form utilises a recessed entrance to create shelter over the front entrance and provide additional light into the living spaces through large corner windows. The stepped planters, block paving and semi-private landscaping provide off street parking and enable the development to sit well within its context.