Reardon Court, Enfield

Reardon Court in Enfield, located on the site of a former care home in Cosgrove Close, has been designed to enhance individuals' quality of life through access to a multi-purpose environment. Two communal courtyards, a central social space, and several auxiliary function rooms come together to deliver a community within itself, with hobby rooms, a library, and hairdressing area promoting a sense of independence and connectivity between residents.

The design has closely followed Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) principles, with each residence offering scenic views and natural light. Encircling the internal courtyards, accessible corridors have been carefully crafted to enhance communal living and promote social inclusion.

Externally, we needed to create a safe, attractive and stimulating environment that offers benefits for the residents and can be enjoyed by staff and visitors alike. Designs also needed to the spatial scale of the building and provide a legible and coherent structure to the site.

The Enfield scheme has been commended by local delegates for its wider impact on aiding housing shortages in the area, with older residents able to move into high quality housing, while increasing the availability of family homes in the borough.

As well as maximising housing opportunities, the scheme has also incorporated a green design philosophy, with more than 100 solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof, alongside sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help with rainwater management.

Social value was a key part of the project, with careers talks held at nearby schools and material suppliers chosen in the local area.

Images courtesy of Miru3D