Client: Taylor Wimpey
Location: Dartford, UK
Size: 264 acres
Skills: Masterplanning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Sustainability
The Bridge Dartford is the first major mixed-use development to be completed in the Thames Gateway and proudly sets the standard for a new type of sustainable community. Designed in collaboration with Hemingwaydesign, architectural diversity and community living are right at the heart of the concept. Gone are the identikit streets and repetitive brick boxes, to be replaced with variety in housing types and styles, quality public spaces and a real sense of place.
The 264 acre site is cleverly masterplanned by breaking up the scale of the 1,134 units into five distinct neighbourhoods. These districts are divided by four 'greenways' that lead to a community hub of school, health, sports and retail facilities. Social interaction is encouraged through the provision of homezone clusters and pocket parks that open off back gardens. Seven different housing types have been designed, each with further variations such as different front door designs or fenestration. For example a two-bed terraced house next to a three-storey townhouse, and cedar cladding next to render, or sandstone yellow brick next to zinc. The hope is that residents feel they have a property with its own identity. Bold raked balconies on the corners of the blocks and playful bird-box totem poles also provide interesting features.