CALA Domus, Harlow

WHAT: The project involved building 74 homes, flats and apartments with a total internal floor area of 95,812ft2. These are part of the Newhall masterplan to build a sustainable community of 2,800 homes on the edge of Harlow, Essex.

CALA Domus is built on 1.93ha of the 81ha Newhall site, and includes eco-friendly features such as solar panels to generate energy to light parts of signature building Chase Tower. The design also includes glazed balconies, Welsh slate on straight roofs and standing seam zinc on curved roofs.

AWARDS: CALA Domus has been awarded the Building for Life Gold Standard. Projects are assessed against 20 defined criteria, with those that satisfy 18 or more of them getting the gold standard. The ODPM-endorsed standard was developed by CABE, the Civic Trust and the National Housebuilders Federation.

HOW MUCH: Construction including infrastructure and the public realm: £14,529,383. Professional fees including architect, structural engineers and civil engineers: £687,875.

FUNDING: Work was funded by New Hall Projects and CALA Homes (South) with a loan from the Bank of Scotland.

WHEN: In 2000 practices were invited to enter an architectural competition run by Roger Evans Associates. PCKO won and in 2002 work began onsite, finishing in August 2005.

CONTRACT: JCT Standard Form 1998 Edition Private Without Quantities

PROJECT TEAM: client and developer: CALA Domus (a joint venture between CALA Homes and New Hall Projects), architect: PCKO Architects; masterplanner: Roger Evans Associates, main contractor: CALA Homes South, structural engineers: Michael Dudfield Associates, civil engineers: DHA Engineering, M&E consultant: Turner Wright & Partners, landscape architect: Pirrko Higson

PROJECT TEAM'S VIEW: "The biggest challenges on the CALA Domus project were to do with keeping down the rising construction costs for what were quite complex designs compared with standard house types. Harlow District Council has been a very forward-looking authority and they've been prepared to go along with a lot of the ideas. They're pleased that it's happening in Harlow because it's giving the area a big boost." - Jon Moen, director, New Hall Projects

Source

QS News