Architecture

The dramatic topography and awkward shape of the site and the varied adjoining uses posed a number of significant physical challenges. Our designs responded by exploiting these constraints to create a great new place that reflects the best characteristics of England’s much loved historic coastal towns. With such constraints, we conceptualised the design response in 3D from the very outset. Achieving a logical relationship between the differing areas of the site on the vertical as well as horizontal axis was fundamental in the success of the scheme. Through this process, the proposal was developed for a winding flight of Portland stone steps cut into the landscape from the top to the bottom level of the site. This feature takes advantage of the site’s aspect and provide dramatic views across the peninsula to Chesil Beach, as well as an arterial link from the surrounding area through the development.

Innovative sustainable technologies are included throughout the development. Two mini CHP units serve the scheme, and the majority of homes have individual rainwater harvesting tanks and biomass boilers. The large change in levels across parts of the site have been used to develop attractive, split level homes that make the very best of the sea views over Portland Harbour and the English Channel.

Officers Field demonstrates how innovation in design can deliver successful medium density contemporary housing that is attractive and respectful of its context while also having low energy demand met from renewable sources. The integrated mix of tenures and the high quality of the public spaces has helped to integrate the new housing in the established community and a great place to live.

The dwellings range from smaller terraced homes to large detached family houses, to form a varied character across the site, further varying the character of the new spaces. These homes are of a contemporary design, but made of recognisable forms with pitched roofs and traditional materials, including the local Portland Stone. The dramatic views across the peninsula and beyond to Chesil Beach are exploited with the design of 4 storey homes at the upper section of the site, and on the lower slopes homes and gardens are arranged to overlook the existing sports pitch and adjacent cemetery. The dwelling designs ensure that site excavations are minimised, with costly retaining walls incorporated within new dwellings and parking structures wherever possible. HTA’s flexible layouts allowed for changes and adaptions for residents, the houses emulates the character while providing for today’s spatial needs, the whole unified by a considered public realm design by HTA Landscape organised around a village green and key pedestrian route identified through detailed community consultation.

Officers Field has been a challenging project to deliver in very difficult market conditions. A traditionally low value area, Portland commands prices some 10% lower that the adjacent town of Weymouth which is, in itself, not a particularly high value coastal town. Sales values apart, other challenges have included complex levels that had to be tackled with substantial retaining walls and, as the site is all made up ground, all the homes have had to be deep piled. Many of the piles are to a depth in excess of 8 metres. ZeroC had to be highly innovative in order to achieve relatively low build costs, a consequence of the Portland sales values, yet deliver homes that stand out from the crowd and represent exceptional value for money. All the homes on the site are unusually spacious. For example, ZeroC has delivered 3 bedroom homes that would invariably be sold as 4 bedroom homes if they were in the hands of a national house builder.

Natural Portland stone, purchased in bulk at the very bottom of the housing market, has been extensively used on elevations and within the public realm. The large change in levels across parts of the site have also been used to develop attractive and arguably ‘quirky’ split level homes that make the very best of the sea views over Portland Harbour and the English Channel. Benefits to the local community include the delivery of a brand new state of the art skate park, the upgrading of the local leisure centre, and improvements to the local public gardens.