Valette Square has scooped the Housing Development of the Year Award at this year’s North West Insider Residential Property Awards.
Designed for the English Cities Fund, Valette Square forms part of the regeneration of Salford’s Chapel Street and is one of five residential schemes the practice has been involved in in the area.
The site’s layout has been informed by the desire to reinforce the existing streetscape and strengthen the urban setting of neighbouring development, Timekeepers Square, the adjacent Grade II* listed St Phillips Church, and the city beyond.
As a result, a key urban design aim has been to connect the development with the existing street network and establish a relationship with Timekeepers Square. To achieve this, a link from Adelphi Street through to Wilton Place, which divides the development site and Timekeepers Square, has been created. Lined with trees and other planting, this new ‘green street’ creates a pedestrian route to and from Adelphi Street, providing a physical link and encouraging movement between the two sites.
To further engage with St Phillips and Timekeepers Square, a new public square has been created; located between an existing Georgian terrace and the site of a former pub. Within the square, seating areas have been provided, offering opportunities for gathering and interaction between residents.
A strong vertical dynamic responds to the area’s existing Georgian vernacular and echoes the appearance of Timekeepers Square, providing a close visual relationship between the neighbourhoods. Elevations have been composed to provide order along the streets and are characterised by the regular, repetitive ordering of window and door openings.
To reinforce the clarity of site layout and complement the existing adjacent buildings, a limited palette of materials has been chosen. The brick picks up on the grey and white blend found at Timekeepers Square and incorporates red multi-tones, referencing the red brick found locally. The resulting aesthetic allows the scheme to sit sensitively within both its historic and contemporary context, while also being read as a new distinct community.
The North West Insider Residential Property Awards were launched in 2016 to recognise and reward the excellence of the North West residential property sector.
