On a deserted RAF barracks in the flat Cambridgeshire Fenlands stands an office building striving to push modular construction to its limits. This is the new regional hub for the Government’s housing body Homes England, whose staff previously worked out of an uninspiring, faceless building in Cambridge.
Designed by London firm Proctor & Matthews, the two-storey, U-shaped workspace was manufactured off-site. But these factory modules are masked by natural materials and interesting cladding. By making reference to local vernacular, the building is given a context, says architect Stephen Proctor.
‘The whole thing is seen like a woven box,' in reference to the region’s weaving heritage, he adds. He points to the tapered black timber cladding of Siberian larch, and the willow canopy. The latter, which borrows from traditional hurdles or sheep pens, was handmade and shades workers as they stand on the balcony and lean on the Cumaru balustrade.
The canopy is supported by steel columns painted terracotta – a reference to the ancient pottery found during the site’s archaeological excavations. This colour is picked up by Jennifer Newman’s metal furniture, which is used for indoor and outdoor break-out spaces.
Despite being relatively quick and efficient to build, some modular construction is still seen as the sector’s ugly duckling. ‘It’s about making modular buildings not look is if they’ve come off the production line,' says Proctor of this project.
For the moment, the 620 sq m workspace stands on the edge of an empty field. But this land is earmarked for Northstowe New Town, the biggest town to be built in England since Milton Keynes’ arriving in 1967. Homes England is the master developer for the project, while P&M are master planners for the first residential neighbourhood of around 400 homes, to be delivered by design-aware developer Urban Splash.
INFORMATION
-
Santa Monica hotspot The Georgian Room is a rare, well-done steakhouse speakeasyHidden inside The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, a restored speakeasy that lovingly nods to its storied past
-
In St Barths, Cheval Blanc is an oceanside oasis soaking in turquoise viewsFollowing its 10th anniversary, Cheval Blanc St-Barth continues to shine as a pearl of the Caribbean
-
We celebrate the emerging London architects to be excited aboutThese emerging London architects are some of the capital's finest ground-breakers, movers and shakers; heralding a new generation of architecture
-
We celebrate the emerging London architects to be excited about
These emerging London architects are some of the capital's finest ground-breakers, movers and shakers; heralding a new generation of architecture
-
A library in a London telephone box? This is a charming reading nook full of surprisesSet in a restored London telephone box, Upper Street Little Library is a cosy beacon to encourage reading to the wider community
-
This revamped east London terraced house is a music lover’s dreamAn east London terraced house gets a boost of personality and sustainability thanks to Archmongers, whose transformation makes room for the owners’ creativity and extensive record collection
-
This elegant infill project slots beautifully into the London streetscapeIn this infill project, a row of garages in Blackheath, south-east London, has been replaced by a contemporary family home by local practice Mailen Design
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2025: the 14 London homes adding design oomph to the everydayThe shortlist for Don’t Move, Improve 2025 has been announced, revealing 14 residential projects across London that add value and pizazz to their inhabitants’ daily lives
-
Space House: explore the brutalist London landmark’s new chapterSpace House, a landmark of brutalist architecture by Richard Seifert & Partners in London’s Covent Garden, is back following a 21st-century redesign by Squire & Partners and developer Seaforth Land
-
Fire-damaged Walworth Town Hall shows off majestic transformationWalworth Town Hall gets a much-needed reimagining by Feix & Merlin, who transformed the heritage building into a contemporary workspace and a hub of its local community in south London
-
Hanif Kara on building materials, the transition from old to new, and a healthy dose of realismHanif Kara, co-founder of structural engineering practice AKT II, discusses building materials and the future of sustainability
