Killynure Green is the first Code 5 Level Housing scheme for Choice Housing in Carryduff, South-East Belfast. PDP London Architects were the competition winning team chosen from 65 anonymous entries for this zero-carbon development, Phase 1 of which completed in October 2015.
The concept of the scheme centred on the need for the dwellings to maximise the use of the pre-existing features of site to create a design concept that was three fold: the first, that the buildings were carefully positioned to follow the natural undulations of the landscape and are tiered across the existing site levels and contours to reduce the cut and fill on the site and the impact on the natural topography. Secondly, sound environmental design principles were employed to utilise the natural Passive design opportunities on the site and thirdly, the creation of an exemplary sustainable community, using the principles of good urban design and place making. This was to link the vibrant and active green spaces and establish a community that is actively integrated into its surroundings and the village beyond.
The intention from the outset was to fully make use of the existing landscape of the steep sloping site, set in suburban farmland on the edge of Carryduff village. The masterplan proposed a journey through the site around which a series of housing clusters were arranged. These were to be made up of both social and affordable houses for sale, to the client’s brief, layered into the landscape with private, semi-private and public open spaces. The architecture of the houses was defined as much by their position on this unique site as by the brief to achieve a Code 5 Zero Carbon rating and lifetime homes standards.
Adequate provision has also been made for public and private open space and landscaped areas which form an integral part of the layout and incorporates an eclectic mix of native Irish vegetation including a hierarchy of different types of planting including specimen trees, street trees, garden trees, hedge planting and amenity planting within dedicated open spaces. In Carryduff, we are keen to ensure that residents from the locality are encouraged to enjoy the amenity spaces created in the new proposal.
PDP London’s design response centred around the creation of a successful, sustainable community as well as the energy efficiency of the individual buildings. The impact of this in the response to the sustainable brief being that the buildings were designed to benefit from passive solar gains before utilising more active solutions. The site was analysed initially to make the most of the challenging conditions and the site sections were key to the development of the design, using the natural undulations of the site to directly inform the orientation and position of the buildings.
The section of each dwelling has been informed by carefully orientated roofs, set at 29 degrees south, to achieve the maximum orientation for photovoltaic solar collection. The overall architecture of the buildings has been characterised by south facing wintergardens placed on a house-by-house basis. Features such as the covered entrance canopy and integral water butt / chain drain create impactful entrances which give the residents the sense that their “front door” is uniquely theirs.
The project focused on creating a highly thermally efficient scheme that would set the standard for future developments. The homes have been designed to achieve an improvement to energy and CO2 emissions of around 60% or more on current building regulation requirements.
Simple materials were chosen for longevity and their sustainable credentials but also to create a development that feels as if it is of the place, referencing the Irish vernacular, yet contemporary in its nature.
