Residential Development, Arundel Street, Portsmouth

Tuesday, 15th September, 2009

A comprehensive development, which would both complement its surroundings and yet form a focal point to a prominent site in the City of Portsmouth.

The street scene of Arundel Street including the new developments adjacent to the site, dictated that any structure built on the current Deaf Centre part of the site would have to complement the scale of the adjoining properties. Therefore the scheme develops the concept of stepping the vertical massing of the building from the three/ four storey buildings along Arundel Street up to the central tower focal point on the corner axis of the site.

The scheme is envisaged as four blocks, each fragmented from one another by 'hinged' circulation points, which add interest and break-up the massing of the elevation.

The scheme is thus intended to read as a rhythmic sweep of elements wrapping around this prominent corner site, climaxing with the central eight storey block before sweeping back down to complement the scale of the buildings at either side of the development.

As recommended in the Development Guidance Note, a cycle route has been included on the eastern end of the site, doubling up as a landscaped access route to Coburg Street. the massing of the scheme is deliberately set away from the thoroughfare of the roundabout to allow for landscaping, pedestrian & cycle paths to run in front of the community use ground floor of the scheme.