Mariners Quay Newport

Category Sustainability
Client Fairlake Homes
Agency / Designer Powell Dobson Architects

Brief

In May 2008 we were invited to take part in a limited design competition for new, sustainable, affordable housing on 2 key sites in the former Old Town Dock along the Newport riverfront development. The scheme for Fairlake Homes was to be delivered in partnership with Newport Unlimited and Newport City Council. Improving the quality of the urban environment was fundamental to the strategy with a new riverside park providing an environmental asset for the city improving the quality of life and creating a distinct sense of place. The brief was to create an exemplar affordable housing scheme within Wales, the UK and Europe with the result being the catalyst for the transformation of the southern gateway to the city centre. It was critical that the scheme achieved the highest quality in terms of design and sustainability demonstrating "best practice in environmental design", providing a high quality, high density development.

Result

The scheme represents a significant and positive contribution to the streetscape, river frontage and vitality of the Old Town Dock masterplan area, setting a benchmark for its continued regeneration. Code 5 has been achieved as passively as possible - through careful orientation of the individual units each with a sun space to take advantage of passive solar gains, naturally lit and ventilated landlord spaces and using a highly insulated air tight envelope (supported by a whole house heat recovery ventilation system). This approach has reduced the energy demand needed to heat the homes to close to passivhaus levels before having to add any low or zero carbon technology. The remaining heating load is serviced by a district biomass boiler with hot water provided through a gas fired combined heat and power unit. The electrical demand to cover the 100% improvement in building regs is supplied by 1,200 sq m of photovoltaic panels.

Solution

Our vision was to create a high quality urban environment taking advantage of the real opportunities provided by the proximity of the river and park. The priority was on the movement of people over cars, within a clear and legible framework, to ensure the success of this development as a 'place'. Our aspiration to achieve a Code Level 5 rating was a key design driver from the outset, with the scheme designed to be inherently energy efficient in orientation, servicing, construction and materiality. Sustainability has informed not just the servicing strategy, but the massing of the building, layout of units and elevational treatments. To respect the massing and accommodation mix recommended in the brief, the house and apartment typologies were conceived as low energy - staggered mews units allow all roof terraces and living spaces access to good levels of day lighting whilst respecting the urban grain of the masterplan.