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Former Irvine school makes way for 50 homes

June 17 2020

Former Irvine school makes way for 50 homes
North Ayrshire Council have extended their run of recent social housing applications with moves to build 50 homes on the site of the former Towerlands Primary School in Irvine.
 
Once again led by Mast Architects the Towerlands project is to be delivered by Ashleigh Building and will see the brownfield site play host to a mix of house types including general needs, wheelchair accessible and amenity housing.
 
Striking out from the suburban context these homes will employ a 'saw tooth' roof profile with base materials including a mix of brick and cream dry dash render.
 
Communicating this approach the architects wrote: "Rather than conform to either of the traditional roof forms adopted within the context, the proposed development adopts a new roof form alongside the traditional duo-pitch to create aesthetic interest. Elevationally, the pitched roof is accentuated on each plot in a ‘saw-tooth’ pattern, creating a contemporary elevation composition that distinguishes each plot, and which advocates a visually interesting block form."
 
Mast will deliver a sister scheme at Millport in tandem.
The estate will be built to designing streets principles
The estate will be built to designing streets principles
The two-brick approach is replicated for bungalows
The two-brick approach is replicated for bungalows

7 Comments

BASARCH
#1 Posted by BASARCH on 17 Jun 2020 at 13:14 PM
Nothing like an aesthetically interesting contemporary series of leaky valley gutters!
Inahuf
#2 Posted by Inahuf on 17 Jun 2020 at 20:31 PM
Designing streets? It’s ignoring the darn street that’s there! What a waste!
Change The Record
#3 Posted by Change The Record on 18 Jun 2020 at 10:43 AM
'Once again led by MAST Architects' How refreshing it would be if Councils ditched the Hub procurement route and found ways to appoint some fresh thinking!
Inahuf
#4 Posted by Inahuf on 18 Jun 2020 at 16:55 PM
actually it’s criminal, turning it’s back on its neighbours and making a total non place. Huge swathes of nothing landscape too. It’s this sort of rubbish that means house builders don’t bother hiring Architects as too many can’t design places, only buildings. Time to tool up for a future that’s much more about landscape and social connection than how neatly you detailed the secret rhone
Big Dan
#5 Posted by Big Dan on 18 Jun 2020 at 18:08 PM
@4 - what an idealistic and privileged comment to make. Put simply, this is a social housing development. Social housing that is very badly needed.

If by cutting back on pretty landscaping NAC are able to afford to house another 2 families then I’m all for it. Take up your landscaping huffs with Cala, not the less opulent.
Inahuf
#6 Posted by Inahuf on 18 Jun 2020 at 21:38 PM
@Big Dan, what a thoughtless response! The nothing landscape and doubled up road layout is wasted space that could have been more homes AND more amenity. Social housing is just where you need clever layouts not this lazy stuff.
The bitty landscape, with loads of kerbs and edging all over is sooo expensive, as will be the suds crates below ground. Good structural landscape, with water attenuation built in, is cheaper and offers more amenity.
I wasn’t arguing for more budget, just more thought.
BASARCH
#7 Posted by BASARCH on 18 Jun 2020 at 22:17 PM
Inahuf has got a point here - it’s not about social housing per se , it’s about making the most of the site.........& this is a poor effort.

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