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INSIGHTS SITE LINES
The Phoenix, Lewes: a first look at the future
Kathryn Firth of Arup reveals a groundbreaking residential scheme in East Sussex that seeks to turn the drivers of climate emergency and sustainability into opportunities for better design and placemaking in shared amenities, plus affordable living
N
ow granted planning as a mixed-use neighbourhood on a neglected 7.9 hectare brownfield site, the Phoenix project is being brought to life by a ‘transdisciplinary’ team of
architects, urban designers, planners and sustainability experts from across the industry. I have been lucky enough to work as part of the core masterplanning team alongside Periscope, spearheaded by the project’s instigator and developer Human Nature. The Phoenix pushes the boundaries of typical placemaking approaches to demonstrate the ways in which multiple challenges, in climate, nature and health and wellbeing, can be addressed at neighbourhood level. Made up of 685 energy efficient homes connected to seven public gardens, the design has inclusivity and connectivity is at its core.
30% of the development will be designated as ‘First Homes’ and ‘affordable rented housing.’ A total of 92 two and three-bedroom homes within this category are defined as Lewes Low Cost Housing, a bespoke category of affordable housing introduced by the Lewes Neighbourhood Plan and defined as affordable on the average salary in Lewes.
Sitting within the South Downs National Park, the Phoenix is made up of 18 buildings by 12 different architects. Human Nature assembled the delivery team of multiple disciplines to reflect the approach and principles of the initiative: highly sensitive to its surrounding landscape, diverse in thinking and design, and empowered by a deep collaboration of people focused on shaping the neighbourhood.
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Consisting of 685 highly energy-efficient homes connected directly to seven public gardens, the design “has inclusivity and connectivity at its core” © Ash Sakula Architects
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF APRIL 2024
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