Fordlands

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The site is located to the south of York City Centre, the surrounding context is predominantly residential. The majority of the site was situated within Flood Zone 2 but some extended into Flood Zone 3. It also included a dramatic level difference which had to be carefully considered. 

Jonathan introduced an inverted dormer roof construction providing the appearance and similar mass of a 2 storey building whilst situating bedrooms in a third storey within the roof space. This enabled the building to remain within permitted height and mass parameters whilst meeting the operational needs and bed numbers required to make the project viable.

The design of the scheme was developed through discussions with the council which resulted in a sensitive and successful proposal which would add to the local character and vernacular of the area. The proposal referenced existing uses of external materials and introduced varying eaves and ridge heights to break down the overall massing of the building to fit within, and be sympathetic to, the surrounding streetscape. The adoption of dormers in the projecting elements of the building especially helped to vary the eaves heights in an appealing manner and inverted dormers were introduced to provide a contemporary element and to further reduce the massing of the roof. 

The building façades were also designed to respect the local architectural context whilst introducing contemporary and contrasting elements to further decrease the overall mass of the building. The elevations were articulated to ensure a domestic scale and differing roof heights, building angles and projections also create visual appeal and interest. The proposal retained the secluded nature of the site and minimised any impact of the intervention of the surrounding area. 

The design resulted in a 64 bed care home for senior individuals with care needs which included parking, landscaped gardens, first floor terraces to communal areas and to some individual bedroom suites. It also answered an identified need for care accommodation for older adults in York. The care home diversified the type of care accommodation available in the local area through the high quality accommodation alongside the provision of additional shared facilities such as dining rooms, lounges, a cinema, activity rooms, a hairdressers and a cafe.