영국 맨체스터 이즐링튼의 새로운 주택 단지에 운하를 따라 일련의 집들을 디자인하는 팀이 꾸려졌다. 이름하여, ‘hoUSe’라는 이번 프로젝트는 주택의 소유주들에게 자신의 자산이 가진 레이아웃을 선택할 수 있는 기회를 줌으로써, 영국 전역에 일반적인 대규모 '집 건설'계획에 대안을 제시하고자 한 것이다. 그러나 내부 레이아웃은 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 또는 다섯개의 침실을 갖춘 형태로써, 좀 더 '전통적인' 느낌이나 오픈 플랜의 배열을 유지하도록 하였다.
‘hoUSe’는 잘 디자인된 집에서 살고 싶어하는 고객을 위해 무언가를 창조하고 싶은, 건축가의 욕구로 부터 태어난 결과물이다. 영국의 도시 중심에서 살면서도, 새로운 주택의 다양성에 부족함을 느끼는 전통적인 고객을 위한 것이다. 나이가 늙어갈 수록, 더 부자가 될 수록, 빅토리아풍이나 조지아풍의 테라스를 도시에서 즐기고 싶어하는 고객의 욕구를 반영하였다.
architects shedkm and regeneration company urban splash have teamed up to design a series of canalside homes in manchester’s new islington neighborhood. named ‘hoUSe’, the modular development gives homeowners the chance to choose the layout of their property, representing a viable alternative to mass house-building schemes common throughout the UK. externally, the first 43 ‘hoUSes’ adopt a traditional terraced approach. however, internal layouts can form one, two, three, four or five bedroom homes with either an open-plan configuration or a more ‘traditional’ feel.
the residences are made of volumetric timber pods that are delivered to site with minimal disruption to neighbors. during the off-site production process, all standards and tolerances can be monitored in a factory-controlled environment. this means that the houses are energy efficient, as well as flexible to plan and adapt. ranging between two and three storeys, the slender pitched roof units feature grey exteriors, broken up by thick-banded black window bays that provide sweeping views and plentiful light. residents can opt for the home’s communal areas to be located either at the base or at top of the house. the first 43 dwellings have already sold out, with the architects stating that the design can be readily adapted to a range of different locations across the UK.
‘we’re delighted to see the first phase of the hoUSe project completed at new islington,’ said ian killick, director at shedkm. ‘this concept has been a long time in the making and we believe that it is a game-changer to tackle the current housing shortage this country is facing. they also happen to be homes that people are proud to live in.’
‘hoUSe is born from our desire to create something for customers who want to live in well-designed homes and stay in the city center,’ added urban splash chairman tom bloxham. ‘we noticed that within UK cities there is a real lack of diversity in terms of new residential stock and our traditional customers – those who had bought and enjoyed urban splash flats – would ultimately get older, richer and end up moving to victorian and georgian terraces in the suburbs.
‘hoUSe is our way of offering them something in the city’, continues bloxham. it’s a really exciting prospect and I am as excited by this as I was by our first lofts over 20 years ago. at prices less per square foot than city center flats, lower maintenance costs than old victorian houses or blocks of flats, big floorplates, high ceilings and huge windows they have already been well received and I’m certain will be a big part of urban splash’s future.’
