High density came out on top in this year's awards. There were prizes for Irwell Valley in Manchester, New Islington & Hackney in Essex and Peabody's much-garlanded BedZED
You could be forgiven for thinking the judges of the 2003 Housing Design Awards misheard their brief and thought they were judging the Housing Density Awards. This year's winners all have high density as their guiding principle and the cornerstone challenge of their design.

There are the usual swanky showhomes on the list – particularly well dressed this year is Ian Simpson's One Deansgate – plus some familiar faces. Architect Bill Dunster will be wishing he designed larger mantelpieces in his Beddington zero-energy development as it scoops yet another award. The Peabody Trust scheme is now groaning under accolades, including a 2000 Housing Design Award when it was still on the drawing board.

Another housing association scheme that provided a winning mix of ecology and density was Chorlton Park in Manchester, which picked up the Housing Corporation Award for best affordable housing. This 23-unit scheme, by architect Stephenson Bell for Irwell Valley Housing Association, notches up an impressive 180 homes a hectare. Squeezed onto the site of a garage, the development also includes four penthouses for private sale.

Rounding out the housing association winners is New Islington & Hackney Housing Association's Darwin Road development in Tilbury, Essex. This Sergison Bates-designed scheme, which provides accommodation and training for unemployed young people, was picked out by the judges for its "innovative mix of social and physical regeneration".

Source

Housing Today