Having acquired the Bevendean site from Brighton & Hove Council, Downland Housing Association, part of the Affinity Sutton Group, commissioned Conran & Partners to design a landmark building with a strong sustainable agenda for the area.
The new design, commended by the planners as ‘textbook’. comprises 31 flats for rental or shared owners. The project was completed in Spring last year. It uses modern methods of construction in the form of structural insulated panels and embraces the government-led initiative for the use of off-site manufacturing methods.
Throughout, the materials and components were chosen for their environmental performance over the building’s life and, wherever possible, selected from a renewable local source. Construction is timber on a brick base with corner building clad in recycled copper – all warm and tactile materials intended to complement their surroundings. The bricks are sourced locally and the sweet chestnut timber is indigenous to Sussex. Since they can be seen from the distant hills, the roofs were considered to be an ‘elevation’ which resulted in their being planted to soften their appearance and blend with the surroundings.
Bevendean is a forward-looking scheme which shows that high quality design is not exclusively for luxury apartments of city centre buildings. It is contemporary design which makes a positive contribution to the character of the areas where a more conservative design approach would add little or nothing.
