Flexstead housing scheme wins RIBA competition
August 2019
Flexstead, a project we are collaborating on with with Mcmullan Studio, has won RIBA’s Lakes and Dales competition. Mcmullan Studio’s Flexstead is a flexible dwelling, inspired by the fluid layout of traditional local farmsteads, aimed at attracting under 35s to the area.
Flexstead will be a benchmark for affordable rural housing and modern sustainable living and Harris Bugg Studio is excited to be involved in this ground-breaking project.
Our landscape design has at its heart an eco-thrifty, accessible ethos, and is highly sympathetic to its beautiful backdrop of Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
We’re delighted for our friends Mcmullan Studio who’ve just been announced winners of the RIBA competition to design a protoype housing scheme creating affordable homes for young people in the Lakes and Dales.
We’ve partnered with them to design the landscape around the new scheme, which has as its heart an eco-thrifty, accessible ethos. Highly sympathetic to its beautiful backdrop of Horton-in-Ribblesdale, the setting has led the choice of materials and craftsmanship both in the architecture and the landscape. Evoking humble yet iconic local farm buildings, Andrew’s Mcmullan’s Flexstead is a flexible dwelling, inspired by the fluid layout of traditional local farmsteads.
Around it, a raised communal terrace gives access to growing spaces, bicycle storage and car parking. Structural planting is designed to enhance wildlife habitats and corridors, and slow waters from the Fells. Native woodland trees and hedging ensures the gardens are rooted in the local landscape. Vernacular materials such as local stone will feature as paving, boulders and bike racks. Our universal approach to the landscape design ensures it will be enjoyed by the widest mix of people for the widest mix of purposes.
We believe the Mcmullan Studio Flexstead will be a benchmark for affordable rural housing and modern sustainable living and we’re excited to be involved in this ground-breaking project.