With a rising need for temporary accommodation for those left homeless and a growing obligation to address the issue,  Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council undertook a programme to re-evaluate and modernise their current provision.

With the accommodation on site not fit for purpose, this proposal replaces the existing facilities with a group of 4 linked buildings comprising 43 residential units, and a total of up to 82 bed spaces, ranging from two bedroom flats down to clusters of individual ensuite rooms that share a kitchen. Configured such that the accommodation is flexible to cater for individuals and families, the design of the buildings and spaces aims to avoid the feel of an institution, rather creating an intimate and safe space at a time when those living there are at their most vulnerable.

The site is accessed from Welfare Road to the south and bordered along the eastern edge by the Alban Way, a pedestrian and cycle trail connecting Hatfield to St Albans. Back gardens of neighbouring houses form the boundaries to the north and west of the site. The Alban Way passes the site at an elevated level, providing an opportunity to connect to the proposed buildings at first floor level, giving residents direct access to the cycle and walking network.

Early concept sketches identified that a collection of smaller buildings would better cater to the mix of resident types anticipated and at the same time respond to the neighbouring properties in a more sympathetic way than a single larger building would do.

Brown bricks with bronze metalwork to balustrades, ventilation louvres and window frames offer a contemporary palette of materials that would are robust and have aesthetic longevity, whilst also being low maintenance for the council during the life of the building.

All of the homes at ground floor benefit from externally accessed front doors, with the upper floor homes on the first and second floors, accessed via internal corridors. Sheltered external staircases are provided between the blocks allowing all to function as independent buildings, yet at the same time, all buildings are connected at the upper floor levels enabling a continuous and efficient maintenance route. A single lift ensures that 80% of the homes across the four buildings can be accessed step free.  A small staff office is included for resident liaison and a large storage area allows flexibility in the provision of  furniture to meet needs of different residents.

Blocks A + B have ground floor accommodation and a covered and secure parking area sits under blocks C + D.

Block A is a two storey building, with Blocks B, C + D being three storeys, responding to the proximity of the neighbouring homes. The publicly accessible areas on the approach to the buildings benefit from impressive landscape proposals, appropriate for a modern housing development and a large shared garden to the rear of the building that is separated from the public realm via access controlled gates.

 Rock Townsend were commissioned to undertake Stage 4 design works so that client could seek tenders from contractors to be procured as part of a wider construction programme in the borough. The detailed design allowed us to explore how the construction of the relatively simple individual buildings were connected by the staircases and external terraces at the upper levels.

Summary