Case study


“The reason why this project was so


successful is because everybody was fully committed to moving


this forward sustainably.” Andrew Smith,


Pozzoni Architecture


structural stability had to be assessed. However, making Manchester’s first Build to Rent scheme a success


required a careful approach to the design. “The reason why this project was so successful is because everybody was fully committed to moving this forward sustainably, “ added Smith. While Manchester City Council set out a minimum requirement of


BREEAM ‘Very Good’ for the scheme, the refurbishment team, consulted by the Energy Council, decided Tribe Apartments could target the highest score, BREEAM ‘Outstanding’. “As a collective design team, we felt we could achieve a lot more with the existing spaces within the buildings. It is a real testament to [Rawlings] that he really wanted to push forward and make the best of the project for the buildings and the local area,” said Smith. To achieve this, the team adopted a range of sustainable measures, from


low-energy lighting, triple-glazed aluminium windows and efficient facades, to a centralised wood pellet biomass heating system connected to all flats – the latter preferred instead of less efficient electric heaters. Even the ground floor extension built at one of the blocks to house the biomass boiler has a sedum roof. Combined, the sustainability measures will help Tribe Apartments generate savings of about 28,000 tonnes of carbon over the buildings’ lifetime. According to the BREEAM report, all the apartments perform on average 65 per cent better than flats built to current regulations. As for the tenants, they can benefit from annual heating and water bills of just £350 on average.


Low maintenance


Another element that sets the tower blocks apart is their new external looks, which feature low-maintenance, moisture-proof cladding boards. Smith said a lot of attention was given to that aspect of the works in order to ensure there was no thermal bridging. The system was actually used as overcladding, placed on top of the existing brickwork with a thick layer of insulation in between to improve the thermal fabric. The architects also managed to increase the size of the existing homes


by encasing the balconies in the new facades. Beyond that, the majority of flats were remodelled and two additional ground floor homes were created in each high-rise, bringing the total number of apartments from 186 to 192. To keep maintenance to a minimum, self-cleaning glass was specified


and fitted to all windows across all three blocks, as erecting tall scaffolds or using cherry pickers was deemed an ineffective solution to cleaning. Internally, special attention was paid to the surfaces, with acrylic


worktops added in kitchens and bathrooms (“They look like marble and last forever,” said Rawlings), large format tiles to minimise grout, and floor tiling that can be easily replaced if damaged. Moulded sinks should minimise sewage problems, while LED lights are used in all flats to reduce energy use. The scheme is already reaping the rewards of its sustainable design, winning the “Sustainable Housing Scheme of the Year” at the Housing Excellence Awards 2016 and more recently became ‘Best Residential Scheme’ at the BREEAM Awards 2017.


Enhanced lifespan


When pressed about the longevity of the three blocks, Andrew Smith reckoned the regeneration has significantly boosted the buildings’ lives. “By encapsulating the envelope as we have done, we’ve really enhanced their lifetime,” said Smith, adding that various elements specified in the refurbishment, from the roofing to the cladding, are set to last over 25 years. Adding to that the buildings’ overall good structural stability, the architect concluded with good maintenance the blocks would last at least another 60 to 70 years as a minimum. The flats in Tribe Apartments are one or two-bedroom and are offered


furnished or unfurnished, with rents ranging from £575 to £750 per calendar month (pcm) for a one-bedroom apartment, and two-bedroom flats from £775 to £975 pcm.


Project team


Client: Nigel Rawlings - Housing Capital Trust (HCT) Contractor: Rowlinson Construction Architect: Pozzoni Architecture Property management: Plumlife BREEAM Assessor: The Energy Council


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM May 2017 | 23


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