The Florrie CLT
HSA completed a Stage 3 feasibility for the development of 3 pieces of land for the Florrie CLT. The 3 sites known as Site A, Site B and Site C are located adjacent to The Florrie, a Grade 2 Listed building, along Mill Street, the main local connecting route through the Dingle.
The Florrie is located on Mill Street in the Dingle which lies in the south of Liverpool in L8. The Florrie are a charity who have been a part of the Liverpool 8 community for over 130 years. They have set up a Community Land Trust (CLT), a non-profit organisation to enable the development of three vacant sites adjacent to the Florrie. Their aim for the sites was to develop them into community-led housing, managed workspace and new communal green space and local services.
A development for community-led housing with a listed building
Early site sketches recording our initial impressions of the character of the built and non built elements around The Florrie
Sketch showing design ideas for Site A and Site B
Site A - Inspired by Almshouses. This site is a mix of commercial units with social housing above, located around a civic square that links to The Florrie and it’s key community services
Site B- Houses facing Mill Street reflect Victorian typology with small front garden creating buffer between public and private threshold to front door. While houses facing Bessemer Street reflect the newer housing typology opposite, with space for vehicles to park by the front door.
Site C- Terrace houses facing Mill Street reflect Victorian typology with small front garden creating buffer between public and private threshold to front door. Apartments are accessed from a central core entered into via a public threshold which is designed to facilitate routes through.
“We wanted to retain the industrial theatrics of the original taxi garage”
A strong community and sustainability drive to the brief. Initial proposals sought to create a place that encouraged and supported connecting with nature and other people to improve wellbeing and strengthen community within the setting of a listed building. Different typologies were explored for 3 different sites all designed to Passive House Standards including live/work, apartments and terraced housing. Inspired by Almshouses. The site is a mix of commercial units with social housing above, located around a civic square that links to The Florrie and it’s key community services.
Design that fosters community cohesion & intergenerational relationships. Each site would have meaningful communal green space at its core and provides family homes with the flexibility to grow and adapt with family life designed in.
This view shows how the new developments on Site A and Site B will address the Florrie edible garden which will become an accessible green space for all during the daytime.
Higher boundaries are proposed between the gardens to create some privacy, but with a lower rear fence to allow permeability into the shared central play space which is secure and gated. Lower quality trees removed from front of site are replaced in this central area to create solar shading during summer and enhance biodiversity
This view shows how the new developments on Site C seek to anchor the corner of Mill Street and reflect the street density that is evident from the historic maps. A small front garden provides a buffer between public and private along the pavement edge, with the building line continued down the street and onto Site B. The corner of Site A can be seen in the background marking the corner of the public garden space.