'The Triangle' visit

Urbanists Jen  Heal and Chris Gentle recently joined the Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales (CREW) on a trip to Swindon for a site visit and a series of presentations on ‘The Triangle’ development, designed by Kevin McCloud’s HAB

Kevin McCloud established HAB (Happiness Architecture Beauty) 5/6 years ago and wanted to challenge current suburban housing.  HAB teamed up with GreenSquare Housing Association and The Triangle is their first development project.

Green Square purchased the site with consent for 32 houses in a standard housing layout.  By redesigning the space, reducing the amount of road and parking, using terraced houses and slightly smaller back gardens the current layout provides 42 units, a large central communal space and two smaller spaces for community growing.

There is a sustainability focus in the development based on physical and social aspects.  HAB’s emphasis is on developments that are:

• Enjoyable
• Sustainable
• Architectural
• Profitable
• Contextual

The aim was to create a more sustainable development that didn’t require people to dramatically change the way they live and that cost close to normal industry budgets.

Features include:

• Hempcrete cladding to improve insulation
• A natural ventilation system that draws air through the house
• A built in ‘shimmy’ that is a smart metre, bus info, community info, car club booking point
• Car club and only one parking space per dwelling
• Growing areas with water pumps
• Edible landscape (although this wasn’t very evident)
• Gabion walls to hide bins and cars also attract biodiversity
• Residents signed up to only owning 1 car: Policy policed by GreeenSquare as landlords

Review:

• Principles of space design work well and could be replicated
• Efficient use of space – no left over spaces
• Good enclosure and natural surveillance of central space
• Like the concept of making ‘normal’ more sustainable
• Demonstrates what can be achieved on a regular budget and how higher density can create better places through more considered design
• Would it work without the management role that comes with HA?

Last thought

The Triangle is an attractive alternative to a more traditional suburbia. It is based on a masterplan that has created an intimate and communal development. This, according to residents we spoke to, engenders a strong sense of belonging and community spirit. 

Many of the principles adopted at the triangle could, potentially, be carried over to private sector housing, however, one the key principles that makes the place successful is the car ownership strategy. Setting a one car per household rule on a development under the control of a Housing Association is achievable but introducing a similar strategy to the private sector could prove to be impractical.

By Jen