• Architecture
  • Housing

Buccleuch House, Hackney

About:

This unusual project involved working with three separate clients to provide new homes for three different communities: first time buyers, Orthodox Jewish families, and older residents who need supplemental care.

Our design focused on creating a new community within one new, unified building. Key to this is the way the building shows very little difference externally across the three tenures. The only exception is the use of subtly different balcony types, which were designed with the practical and cultural requirements of residents in mind. Private apartments have simple stacking balconies; those for Orthodox Jewish families are staggered to provide a clear view of the sky for the Sukkot festival whereas those for older residents are glazed to provide an extra ‘living space’ to spend more time inside. Many of the homes for older residents also follow HAPPI design recommendations, with flexible layouts to help residents move around more easily.

For more details and a short film, read our Project Story.

Project Details:

Unifying three different communities into one truly intergenerational housing project in north London.

Client: Hill, Hanover and Agudas Israel Housing Association

Construction Value: £15m

Completion: 2015

Location: Hackney

Awards:

  • EAC National Housing for Older People Awards 2019, Best UK Retirement Housing: Gold Award
  • Building Awards 2016, Housing Project of the Year: Finalist
  • British Homes Awards 2016, Affordable Housing Development of the Year: Winner
  • What House? Awards 2016, Best Exterior Design: Silver
  • What House? Awards 2016, Best Partnership Scheme: Silver
  • Hackney Design Awards 2016: Shortlisted
  • Housing Design Awards 2016, Completed: Shortlisted
  • London Planning Awards 2016, Best New Place to Live: Shortlisted
  • New London Awards 2015, Health & Care: Shortlisted
  • WAN Awards 2015, Residential: Longlisted
  • Housing Design Awards 2013, Project: Winner
  • Housing Design Awards 2013, HAPPI Award: Winner

Image: Tim Crocker