Gerard House is part of the wider regeneration of the Alton Estate and is intended to assist this decant strategy, providing 14 high quality family dwellings in a landscaped setting, and in close proximity to the existing Alton Estate to ensure minimal disruption to those residents re-locating. Gerard House was completed early in the regeneration, to enable residents to move during the early phases on delivery of the estate masterplan.
The site area is 0.25 Ha and has a level fall of approximately 3m from north to south. The site is physically bound by mature landscaping to the west towards Roehampton recreation ground and Richmond Park Golf Course. There is a single point of access from Fontley Way to the east and Alton community nursery lies to the south. The site is adjacent to but falls outside the Alton Conservation Area. Neighbouring development is predominantly residential, varying from 12-storey blocks, four storey terraces of low-rise maisonettes and single storey dwellings.
The design rationale was informed by contextual analysis of the Alton Estate mixed with community living to create a scheme that knits into the existing urban fabric. The scheme, responds to the level change across the site, whilst providing usable landscape; maximise views of the landscape and retain existing trees; and provide a marker corner Gateway to activate what was previously the dead end of Fontley Way.
The scheme provides 14 dwellings (56 dwellings per hectare), comprising 12 x 3-bed maisonettes and 2 x 4-bed maisonettes with 10 parking spaces and cycle storage. Upper floor maisonettes are accessed via an external walkway, and ground floor maisonettes have individual entrances. All entrances have a canopy and are recessed for protection and emphasis. All homes have outdoor space as either private gardens or balconies, along with communal space and children’s play space in open landscaping.
A palette of robust materials was selected to complement the surrounding buildings without copying the historic designs. Predominantly a brick facade, the elevations are punctured with generous windows and balconies and animated with feature brick detailing.
