Our design for this brown field site in the Roundhay area provides 4 two bedroom apartments, a three bedroom penthouse apartment and self-contained two storey house.  The site is within the highly sensitive Roundhay Conservation Area and on the edge of the Registered Roudhay Park. Planning permission was obtained by balancing the developer’s brief for a building of contemporary style and respecting the historic context. The result is a design which forms a bookend to the conservation area.

 

Generous space standards have been achieved for the apartments with amenity space provided by balconies and terrace. All apartments afford excellent views of the park.

 

The buildings form balances elements reflected in surrounding historic buildings and modern elements suggesting lightness and simplicity. The materials continue this theme. The external walls are natural pitched faced stone, pre-coloured cement render and locally sourced ashlar stone. The roof to the house is natural welsh blue slate. As a striking contrast there are large surfaces of black tinted glass set in gun metal coloured aluminium frames. The balconies are made of bespoke galvanised steel parts. The balustrades support glass panels and stainless steel handrails.

 

Lightness is expressed at the front corners of the apartments where the glass wraps around the steel columns. This is further accentuated by curved glass balconies.

 

The apartments are high spec. and design detail has been fundamental from inception to completion. Interiors are spacious, light and minimalist with high gloss surfaces reflecting the surround mature trees.  

 

The project was a finalist in the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2011.