Midland Road

Shortlisted competition entry for a climate-smart, 100% affordable residential scheme for 66 new homes in the Old Market Quarter of Bristol.

Ferguson Mann Architects entered a two-stage competition for Brighter Places; Bristol’s largest independent housing association, in conjunction with Bristol Housing Festival; a 5 year lobbying project for innovative housing solutions. The project gave FMA the opportunity test ideas for low carbon, high quality affordable homes to meet Bristol’s Urban Living SPD, and designed to both LETI and Passivhaus standards.

The plan is based around a central courtyard – a form synonymous with community and shelter, that provides a tranquil place for residents away from the busy city. The courtyard form is also a highly efficient plan in terms of build efficiency and cost, as well as servicing.

Additionally, the form achieves dual or triple aspects to the homes with generous balconies for views and private outdoor space. The building scale responds to neighbouring context with stepped storey heights, enabling sunlight and daylight to penetrate deep into the courtyard. The residential accommodation incorporates a mixture of one and two bed apartments and responds to flexible ways of living, such as being able to work from home.

The materials echo the local industrial heritage of the Midland Railway brickwork and more colourful facades / murals found in Old Market and across Bristol. Curved corners, string courses and contrasting parapets also respond to the context of Old Market.

The flat roof structure provides space for greens roofs, food growing and gardens, to reduce the urban heat island effect. Over half of the roof space is allocated to renewable energy generation. Thermal comfort will be achieved by harnessing the cross ventilation within the flats, coupled with MVHR and high levels of airtightness.