Lewisham’s first Passivhaus scheme wins national design award

Melfield Gardens, Phoenix’s intergenerational housing scheme, has won the GLA award at the 2021 London Housing Design Awards.  

The Housing Design Awards are represented by all five major professional housing institutions (RICS, RIBA, RTPL, Lanscape Institute and Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists), and focus on innovative design.  

Melfield Gardens is a highly sustainable, affordable housing scheme, which will provide 30 affordable homes for residents aged over 55 and two, four-bedroom flats for postgraduate students studying at University in Lewisham.  

The new homes will be built to the ‘Passivhaus’ standard, an internationally recognised methodology for the design and construction of highly energy efficient and comfortable homes which help to address issues like climate change and fuel poverty.  

The highly sustainable homes will require very little heating. This means residents will benefit from comfortable living environments all year round, as well as low energy bills.  

Jim Ripley, Chief Executive of Phoenix Community Housing said: “It’s vital that we not only meet the need for affordable homes but also for good quality homes. Through a flexible intergenerational approach, there’s something for everyone. We’re providing more than just a home and doing so in a way that responds to the challenges of climate change.” 

Melfield Gardens is expected to be ready for residents to move in by mid 2024.