23-29 Buckingham Street

Apartment building project

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Area: 2,889 sq.m 31,096 sq.ft
Budget: £ 2.5M

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Location:
Aylesbury, HP20 2LA

Current stage:
Building works in progress

Description:
This residential development is located on the northern edge of the historic town centre of Aylesbury. The plot size measures roughly 1440 sqm and adjoins 2 buildings - Rycote Court and Bakery House- in mixed-use with retail units on the ground floor, offices on the upper floors and a car park at the rear. The proposal consists of the conversion of all the existing offices into self-contained flats, the Rycote Court‘s mansard roof extension and the construction of an additional residential development within the existing car park area with the creation of a total of 24 new flats. The Development scheme has been broken down into separate phases and currently, all the works proposed for the Rycote Court and the Bakery House have been completed and the scheme is awaiting planning approval for a 2-storey residential development within the car park. Once the approval is granted, an additional storey is planned to be added on top of the proposed flat roof. AS Studio took over this project from the start by providing its architectural expertise throughout the entire process from concept to completion. The proposal for the new development involves the construction of a two-storey building above the existing car park providing 9 new apartments. The general character of the site application - due to the building's proximity along three sides, the presence of a Grade II listed building on the western edge, an existing car park that needs to be retained and a surrounding neglected urban area - makes this area particularly challenging but at the same time an opportunity to make an important contribution towards the regeneration of this part of Aylesbury. Careful attention has been paid to ensure the massing, height and profile of the building will broadly reflect those of surrounding buildings. The design proposes setbacks/ staggers as the building rises to reduce the bulk, provide amenity spaces as well as achieve a satisfactory spatial relationship with the adjacent buildings. The design of the front facade seeks to complement the other frontages of the Cambridge place creating a cohesive urban design and a “piazza” capable to provide urban identity to a currently neglected area. The car park is hidden behind a patterned solid brickwork facade and the entrance is deliberately designed differently from the rest of the frontages by using a tile cladding which will distinctively identify the access when coming from the street. Important outside design elements such as the proposed walls, fencing, parking, street furniture and landscaping would contribute positively and enhance the overall characteristics of the street scene. The brickwork which is primarily used in the area has been considered the most appropriate façade material in keeping with the surrounding area. Careful use of brick patterns, soldier bricks and rustication, creates a rhythm between the facade and material design features resulting in an attractive and uniform building. Where possible, large and full height powder-coated aluminium grey windows have been proposed, to maximize the light into the flats from all elevations and result in an enriched appearance by the use of precast lintels in the same tone of grey. Aluminium railings in light grey with a minimal, contemporary look will characterize the Juliet balconies and the enclosed terraces along the North West façade. These will be combined to the front with a glazed and transparent balustrade to help mitigate the volume to the main frontage on the third floor. A concrete coping will conclude horizontally the elevation emphasizing the stepped profile and dynamic appearance of the building. Careful consideration has been given to daylight, maintaining the privacy and avoiding overlooking with design elements offering control over the views, preventing invasion of privacy and minimising disturbance to neighbouring properties. The comprehensive set of design solutions - oriel windows, high-level windows, and oriel type balconies - have both enriched the overall design of the scheme and resolved all potential privacy/ overlooking /light issues, whilst causing no harm to the existing amenities. The proposed outdoor amenity spaces have been carefully considered in the interior design treatment in order to provide good quality, modern accommodation for the future occupants. The compliance with national housing standards together with great attention to details, finishes and colour palette will create a feel-good, high-spec domestic living atmosphere, responding to the client’s aspiration to deliver high quality contemporary living accommodation.