Accordia

The first housing scheme to win the Stirling Prize, the design of Accordia maximises access to public open space and protects established habitats.

David Millington Photography Ltd

Close to the centre of Cambridge, the scheme has been fitted densely into a site which formerly housed government offices and prefabricated WWII buildings.

Communal spaces are provided in the form of courtyards and internal avenues. Within these spaces, communal orchards have been planted with the intention that the space should also allow for food production.

The scheme supports and enhances an adjacent brook habitat as part of its development by establishing a strong green infrastructure and landscape strategy as part of the design. The retention of mature trees and woodland formed a crucial part of this strategy alongside sustainable drainage features to support the local water environment.

Read the full case study and watch the video walkthrough, to find out more.

Tags: green infrastructure, public space