Modern energy-efficient housing complex, corner of Spackman’s Way and High St Chalvey.

 

Industrial functionalism is referenced in the sawtooth roof, a feature of old factories that employed the design to stop direct sunlight from skylights overheating products on the factory floor. At first glance this would appear to be just another modern architectural skeuomorph– an archaic design feature that no longer has any practical use but is retained for aesthetic reasons– but in this case, the feature is also used as a way of introducing more daylight and saving energy. A hearty dose of nostalgia goes into the mix too, as such roofs were common in buildings from the first half of the 20th century and form part of our industrial imagination of the past. The complex is arranged in short terraces which continue the reference by repeating the roof as you go along, except in this case each ‘tooth’ of the roof corresponds to a single, separate housing unit.

The complex is arranged in a U-shape around a communal garden space and is fenced around the perimeter (rather over-enthusiastically in the section pictured above, with both hedge and railings). Perhaps this desire for exclusivity stems from the buildings’ proud description as 'Zero carbon homes with a variety of renewable energy solutions’; ironically, the complex is situated yards away from Chalvey dump, sorry 'Chalvey Household Waste Recycling Centre’, which, er, offers 'renewable energy solutions’ of its own. Still, I’m sure it smelt good on the blueprint.