Islington Square housing project
Griffiths, S., Jacob, S. and Holland, C. 2006. Islington Square housing project. London.
| Title | Islington Square housing project |
|---|---|
| Creators | Griffiths, S., Jacob, S. and Holland, C. |
| Description | This built project arose after FAT was selected unanimously by residents in a 2003 competition to design new houses for the Manchester Methodist Housing Group within Urban Splash’s New Islington development. Griffiths was FAT’s lead designer in this project. The £2.3 million scheme comprises 23 two-to-four bedroom family homes and gardens. The design’s aim is to unify the residents’ desire for traditional homes with the masterplan commitment to innovative world-class architecture, and was developed in close collaboration with the occupants. The Islington Square Housing scheme is designed to meet ambitious sustainability targets, intended as an exemplar for future UK construction. The design reduces primary energy, CO2 emissions and water consumption, ‘green’ specification of materials and reduction of construction waste, design for life-cycle adaptability, etc. and has an EcoHomes ‘excellent’ rating. Hence the key issue was to develop a model for mass housing design, achieving a high standard of ecological awareness and more sustainable approach to housing provision. Once again, the scheme has been widely covered in the architectural and national press, including BBC2’s 'Culture Show', Guardian, Times, Financial Times, Daily Mirror, Evening Standard, L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, etc. It is also reviewed in: Anglo Files (Thames & Hudson, 2005, pp. 112-27); Gritty Brits (Carnegie Museum of Art, 2007, pp. 56-59); Building Design (28 April 2006, pp. 14-20); Building (31 March 2006, pp. 54-58); Blueprint (May 2006, pp. 84-87); Architecture Today (May 2006, pp. 56-61); Architectural Design (July/August 2006, pp. 122-128); etc. The scheme has won several awards: Best Public Housing Project in 2006 Brick Development Association Awards; Daily Telegraph’s 'What House' Award; Building Magazine’s 'Best Development' Award; Regeneration Partnership of the Year Award 2006. It was however famously rejected for a RIBA Regional Award (2007), despite intensive pressure on the judges from RIBA’s headquarters and others to recognise it. |
| Year | 17 Apr 2006 |
| Files | |
| Publication dates | |
| Completed | 17 Apr 2006 |
| Output media | Design |