"Levitt Bernstein’s winning entry in an open architectural competition developed a new, exemplary architectural and landscape model for affordable family housing in Islington. The competition required the ideas to be
applied to a specific site, Vaudeville Court in Finsbury Park. Levitt Bernstein’s design was underpinned by the sustainable concept of ‘homesown’, growing your own fruit and vegetables.
The new housing ‘repairs’ the existing residential terrace by extending to the same building line and scale, and provides 14 dwellings in a combination of family houses and flats on the 1300 m2 site. The full potential of the tight urban site is utilised by developing a courtyard form with large family dwellings at ground level and apartments above. Every possible surface is used to provide amenity space, either shared or private.
The adaptable plans are based around a fixed core, allowing the concept to be replicated with variations to suit other inner-city sites. All dwellings are designed to exceed Level 4 under the Code for Sustainable Homes, and they can be upgraded to Level 5. These environmental targets are primarily achieved by adopting ‘Passivhaus’ principles with high levels of insulation, water recycling and PVs."