West Bridgford Apartments

This 800 sq m plot on the banks of the River Trent – next to the Grade II listed Meadows Suspension Bridge – was the site of two unremarkable detached houses. Our client wanted to replace these with contemporary apartment buildings that would capitalise on the unique location, with its excellent views both north and south along the bend in the river.

After some back and forth with the local authority, plans were approved for nine two-bed apartments in three, three-storey articulated blocks. All nine apartments are double aspect, maximising daylight, views and natural surveillance of the car park and street.

The base of the building and the ground floor are articulated in locally sourced red brick, while the first and second floors are clad in a vertical western red cedar timber with a natural finish that will weather to an attractive silver colour.

The top floor is a higher storey, in line with the principles of architectural proportions of creating a ‘top’ to the building, balancing the raised ground floor.

Windows and glazing are a high performance timber and aluminium composite window with a natural anodised silver finish to the frame externally.

Along the river front, frosted glass fins capture the south west light onto the façade and disperse it within the living areas, reducing the need for artificial lighting, and bay windows reference the projecting bays of existing buildings along the avenue.

All the apartments have private open space: the raised ground floor apartments have garden terraces, the first floor apartments have full width balconies and the second floor apartments have partially screened roof terraces overlooking the river.

The new buildings are more sustainable  – specifically designed to be safe in the event of a breach of the flood defences – and are level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.