Project of Choice 2024 – Eamonn Chapman
At the close of 2024, all Wilson Architects team members took a moment to reflect on their stand out property project of the year.
Operations Director & Architect, Eamonn’s favourite project of 2024 was a 17-bed HMO.
“Internally, we’ve tried to keep the rooms quite large and generous, and above the licensing guidelines for HMOs.” Eamonn said, “The client wanted to provide a high quality shared accommodation for the end-users. The client was great to work with, they were really positive and engaging and were a pleasure to work with.”
Based in Derby, and in the later stages of planning, the two-storey HMO with 3 apartments promises to breath new activity into a previously empty, disused site. Two flats could house six occupants, with the third potentially housing up to nine.
“The client approached us for a redesign, looking in particular for something that would maximise the sites GDV whilst also being sympathetic to its surroundings,” Eamonn explained. “The material inspiration of the site was taken from the surroundings. You’ll see it features the red brick hues, semi-dry art stone, and even a red hue on the aluminium mansard roof.”
The design process prioritises sustainability and architectural excellence, facilitating community connections and a dedication to environmental stewardship. It’s a responsible, considered approach that is sympathetic to its surroundings in massing, materiality and proportion.
Eamonn said, “It is a challenging site, due to being situated on a corner, between residential dwellings, and a larger building on the opposite corner side. From a massing perspective, the goal was to obtain the maximum number of units whilst also fitting into the existing mass of the site, without being too overbearing to the existing residential dwellings.”
“One of the most rewarding aspects of this design is that the time we spent on the elevation treatments has really paid off. All the Wilson Architects staff had involvement in terms of the design input and critique to really enhance the final outcome.”
“The elevation treatment and mansard roof that are my favourite aspects. I think it creates a modern interpretation of the existing context whilst also not overbearing too heavily on the adjacent properties.”
“You can see it’s quite unique, with the dental course detail that was come up with.”
Through innovative solutions, a perfect synthesis of community housing and ecological richness has been designed. Wilson Architects are optimistic that it sets new standards for the local environment and provides a positive legacy for future generations.
