This proposal, for 32 affordable homes in the village of Abbots Langley, exploits its rural location whilst remembering the residents’ likely relationship to London.

We sought to exploit the leafy and undulating site to the maximum of its potential. The distribution of houses, access, and parking is a response to existing qualities – complex contours and mature trees. This is complemented by a series of paths, landscaped areas and vehicular routes.

Dwellings are organised into three clusters, each in a discrete arrangement to maintain a sense of individual identity though based on a small number of standard layouts. Existing ill-maintained pedestrian routes across the site are absorbed into the scheme and enhanced accordingly, maximising the area’s porosity.