Haywards Heath

A development of 50 Retirement Living apartments for McCarthy Stone in Haywards Heath. From the outset the design team have developed a scheme that is generated by its unique location and responds to the local urban fabric of mixed use development; with civic offices, commercial and residential buildings ranging from detached houses to large blocks of flats all within close proximity of the site.

The scheme includes the demolition of Maxwelton House, which is a commercial office building set over 4 floors, with the lower ground floor semi-basement due to the contours of the site. A detached residential property has been demolished to make way for a development on the site.

The prominent front elevation addresses Boltro Road and the mass of the development steps in line with the contours of the site, with the most prominent / tallest corner towards the south. Due to the pleasant outlook of the site across Boltro Road to the west, and the orientation of the building, there is a sunken external terrace between the building and public footpath. Feature tree planting along this elevation soften the aspect from the street and provide a pleasant, green outlook. Generous balconies and a communal rooftop terrace enhance residents’ external amenity.

Although the outward appearance of the development is simple and orthogonal, the elevations are articulated with a series of projections and insets. The vertical proportions of the generous full height windows further animate the facades and create a pleasing rhythm to the elevations. All these design features come together to produce an architecture that is elegant and of its time, without reverting to an historical pastiche.