Lovell Lodge, Cambridge

Following a kitchen fire leading to the destruction of the previous Guest House in 2016, we were appointed by a local developer to maximise the sites Gross Development Value with a new residential flat development. Following pre-application meetings with the Local Authority a scheme for 14 residential flats was brought forward to the council for consideration.

Due to the site location, it was felt at an early design stage the proposal should be of the highest quality whilst incorporating a character that is capable of joining the ensemble in a varied streetscape. As a result, our design approach was driven by many factors; primarily this was to distribute the massing by careful consideration of the urban environment.

We were inspired by the history and complexity of the opulent Elizabethan Golden Hind Public House, which sits on the corner of Milton Road and Kings Hedges Road, as well as the varied semi-detached properties with their double gabled front elevations, and brick and stone detailing. We felt these buildings formed a strong archetype in the area and therefore were considered as an acceptable approach to the design ethos of the new building.

Our proposal therefore took inspiration from the form and scale of these buildings but utilised it in a more contemporary manner. The scheme is to be constructed in contemporary materials whilst replicating all the existing features such as gable ends, stone window surrounds and window proportions. We proposed that the outer skin of the building was constructed in brick, with careful elements of brick and stone detailing such as window lintels and jambs. A brick base anchors the building at street level and carefully judged cut-outs, at a higher level ,sculpt the massing in three dimensions.