Goldsmith Street, Norwich

This project consists of 105 affordable new homes, built for Norwich City Council. It is one of the largest schemes in the UK to adhere to the voluntary Passivhaus building standard for energy efficiency.

Using traditional British brick and roof-tiles, the design seeks to reintroduce streets and houses into an area of the city that is otherwise dominated by blocks of flats. At 14 metres, road widths are intentionally narrow, emulating the scheme’s nineteenth-century predecessors elsewhere in the city.

A shared alley, accessible only from the back gardens, creates a secure place for children to play. The landscaping extends beyond the boundaries of the site to include local roads and a park, melding the development into its environment.

Designed by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley.