Caledonian modular homes, Lewisham

We were appointed by Caledonian Modular as Architect, Principal Designer and Landscape Architect to support two social housing projects for Lewisham Homes, designed and built utilising modern methods of construction.

This programme will deliver much needed social homes, benefitting those most directly impacted by the housing crisis. We developed the design for both schemes from RIBA Stage 3 through the design, manufacturing, and construction stages towards completion onsite. 

Social housing features

The two schemes, Home Park and Edward Street, were awarded as part of the council’s Precision Manufactured Housing Initiative (PMH). Lewisham trialled PMH to deliver 24 temporary accommodation units for homeless families, creating bright, spacious, and modern housing that took 30% less time to construct at a cost that was 20% cheaper than traditional construction methods.

These schemes will also highlight the Borough’s position as one of the front-runners in delivering new, affordable homes with greater speed, efficiency, and environmental performance.

The Edward Street project consists of the construction of 34 high-quality social housing units featuring a part three and part seven storey building on the former site of a multi-use games area in Deptford. This modular construction scheme includes 34 residential units, 20 x three-bed and 14 x two-bed flats on upper floors, with an in-situ stair core and lift. 

The scheme is arranged around a courtyard, served by an external central core together with access, landscaping, and associated works, with integrated landscape design including hard landscaping and the planting of a new public square. Ground level accommodation includes a mix of nursery and flexible B3/A1 spaces set around a courtyard together with a secure nursery outdoor play-space and associated cycle parking provision.  

Home Park includes 31 socially rented housing units comprising a 3-5 storey building of eight one-bed, 16 two-bed, and seven three-bed self-contained flats.   

Solution

As Architect and Lead Designer, we have developed the design of both schemes from RIBA Stage 3 through the design, manufacturing, and construction stages towards completion onsite in Q3 2021.

We brought real value to the scheme by reviewing the concept design produced by others and providing alternative solutions that reduced capital cost and programme. We liaised with the local planning authority extensively to ensure that the original design intent was met and still constructable as an offsite manufactured building system. This modularised the scheme whilst also retaining its original aesthetic to the highest architectural quality.