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ARCHITECTURE | COMMENT
ABOVE: This new build five-bedroom family house is designed to fit within the historic context of a Conservation Area. The house redevelops an existing brownfield site, and completes the elegant Victorian frontage. Inside, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and large reception and entertaining spaces are laid out over three floors
require too much investment or time to unlock their potential, but we have found that it is exactly these gaps and the voids in our urban fabric sites that offer opportunities for development on a small scale. I have learned from experience to spy a site, unnoticed or discarded as too challenging, too expensive. The owners of such sites may not know what an asset they have, but with the help of an architect’s skill and creative thinking such sites can be unlocked to release value for owners while going some way to meeting the housing need. The optimum situation should be a win-win situation where owners receive a cash windfall whilst individual self-builders, small independent developers or perhaps a housing co-operative are encouraged to build decent quality, sustainable new homes. We know that Bath is particularly sensitive to redevelopment, being rightly proud of our unique architectural heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Status, so any new development needs to be sensitive and sustainable – adding to a legacy of good domestic architecture and continuing the great architectural heritage of our city. As architects our experience has shown us that small new developments perhaps need to take even more care about how, where and what is built than large developments. New buildings need to engage with the community, to listen and address concerns. They need to take a sustainable approach to the environment and materials such as looking at using Passive House design principles, which are designed to attain a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency to reduce energy use. Of course it is vital to consider involving an 46 TheBATHMagazine
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ocTober 2020
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architect at an early stage to help find the best solution for unlocking the potential of such sites and leaving them in a better state than we found them. I believe that small one-off buildings and new developments have great potential to lead by example and create exemplary homes that make a positive contribution to the city. Individual and small developers maintain a strong presence on ground and in the community so it’s within their interest to build the best possible houses they can. At Maack Architects, we have created many new homes on challenging sites: alleys,
Concept proposal to reuse a derelict brownfield site in Bath to create two new low-energy apartments
gardens, garages, derelict buildings and wasteland, so I know that there are opportunities to build providing you have enough vision, tenacity and patience. It’s not a quick or easy journey, but it is infinitely rewarding and increasingly vital. ■ Richard Asbury is director of Maack Architects and an architect who also develops houses. He has helped private clients and developers to maximise the potential of their land and properties by creating new sustainable homes; call for a free consultation: maack.co.uk
