12 Church Grove
Architype worked with the Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) on the Church Grove Project between 2015 – 2019 helping to shape an innovative community-led, affordable self-build housing scheme.
Location
London, UK
Area
Status
Completed
Year
2024
Client
Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS)
The scheme offers an alternative response to the current housing crisis in London, tackling not only the shortage and cost of homes but also the quality. Unit sizes are 10% greater than area standards in London and the ‘fabric first’ approach promotes high-quality, high performing robust materials that will drive down life-cycle costs.
The design incorporates external walkways with shared and private gardens to encourage neighbourhood interaction, as well as a communal spaces in line with co-housing principles.
For Architype, the project was a return to the practice’s self-build roots, and pioneering projects such as ‘Diggers’ self-build in Brighton and ‘Hedgehog’ in Bevenden, inspired by the late Walter Segal.
Architype supported RUSS through a competitive tender and public procurement process to secure the site in 2015, and through co-design workshops with the future residents group, developed a design which received planning permission in 2018. Shepherd Epstein Hunter took over as technical delivery architects and the project completed in 2024.
Vision
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What are the fundamentals of successful collaborative design?
Collaborating With Communities
Collaboration
What are the fundamentals of successful collaborative design?
Customisation
Customisation was a regular theme through the co-design process, and we discussed options for internal and external customisation.
Design Menus
Architype introduced the idea of a Design Menu to the residents group as a live document to record all ideas raised and group decisions made (relating to design) through the co-design process.
Developing a co-design process
At 12 Church Grove, the design was developed through co-design workshops with the residents group.
Design
Expertise
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