Urbanism
Environment
Design

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Following URBED's work alongside Homebaked Bakery from 2011 to 2013, URBED were delighted to have the opportunity to help Homebaked CLT realise their next vision! A series of five community design workshops were held between December 2018 and March 2019, inviting local residents to contribute their ideas. This process is excellently documented within the Homebaked CLT blog.

• The first session of the design process brought together a group of local residents and Homebaked stakeholders to consider the overall ‘form, feeling and function’ that we’d like to achieve for the project. Several of the ideas expressed picked up on those developed in earlier processes: for example the contrast between retaining ‘tradition’ and original features on the front elevation and a more experimental and varied approach at the rear.

• During the second sesstion, URBED asked residents about their personal ambitions for the project and wider hopes and visions. This included a keen awareness of changing the area’s reputation, both by local people and those from further afield. A sense of community pride was key for many in the group.

• By the third session, key design principles were confirmed, and several options had been tried and tested, with three emerging favourites. The focus of this session was to look at these designs in more detail, and work out what was popular and what was not. Their was preference for  more opportunity for commercial space, and development into the attic. During thie meeting, URBED explained energy plans for the terraces, with the focus on the actual building material and a 'Fabric First' approach.

• In February, the Core Design Team went on a day trip around the north-west, checking out design ideas and ownership models, and looking at the work of other CLTs and cooperatives.

• During the final workshop, URBED presented 3D visuals and sectional perspectives of the building design, and facilitated a short session about render colours and materials, with participants marking their preferred colour choices to influence the final design of the gable end.