Liz Lake Associates were thrilled to have been novated to Hill Contractors Ltd to discharge planning conditions for BPHA’s new Extracare scheme in Hauxton, Cambridge.
The scheme involved a comprehensive landscape design to fashion a network of external spaces which provide a caring, therapeutic and sociable environment for residents, visitors and staff members to enjoy.
The key elements of the scheme include:
· A clearly defined visual link to the adjacent Public Open Space encourages movement and interaction.
· A high quality multi-functional space to the north east of the building contains planters and other opportunities for residents to shape their own environment and partake in social and therapeutic horticulture.
· A hard landscaped North West entrance announces arrival and reinforces orientation.
· A meandering path provides a safe circulation route to encourage activity. Regular seating points offer ‘stops’ for relaxation, contemplation and ‘catching up’ with friends met on the way.
· A rich planting palette creates a range of sensory experiences.
· A more natural green space to the west of the building is reinforced through wildflower planting and provides a rich habitat for biodiversity.
· Individual terraces to the ground floor apartments provide more intimate, private space.
· The café is served by a striking public roof terrace which fuses a hard works palette of timber and stone with raised planters overflowing with colour and texture. The space acts as a catalyst for activity and inspires wider community integration.
· A private resident’s only roof garden offers a safe space to appreciate elevated views of the surrounding area.
· A combination of railings and hedges provide an attractive, yet secure perimeter boundary.
· Tree planting to the eastern edge soften and filter views whilst simultaneously providing scale to the planting scheme.
