Ivy May Close

Brislington, Bristol

This project of five, two-bedroom bungalows was designed for Bristol City Council and completed in 2019. Each of the new homes meet the Accessible and Adaptable Dwellings standard (Category 2 of Part M of the Building Regulations), with wide doorways, spacious circulation areas, and level access to all parts of the home.

The north / south orientation of the site enabled the houses to incorporate asymmetrical pitched roofs, with photovoltaic panels on the south-facing parts of the roof and roof windows on the north side, bringing light into the centre of the home. The fronts of the houses have a large recess, giving shade to the kitchen windows and creating a sheltered space within the generous front gardens, designed to encourage social interaction between residents.

The site, which is in the Brislington area of Bristol, is surrounded by existing back gardens and was formerly a council depot. The design required careful consideration of access and turning areas for larger vehicles, the integration of an existing electricity substation, and the privacy and amenity of existing and future residents. The new road is named after a relative of one of the council’s project team, who used to live close to the site.