Carmichael Court

Carmichael Court provides 14 new affordable homes on the former site of a Victorian villa in Stevenston. The development sits within an established residential setting, shaped by neighbouring sandstone buildings, retained stone boundary walls and the landscaped edge of the Stevenston Burn.

The relatively constrained site called for a careful response that would sit comfortably within its surroundings. Three low-rise blocks are arranged around a shared south-facing courtyard, creating a sheltered communal space at the heart of the development. Planting and bespoke seating establish the courtyard as a shared garden where residents can meet and spend time outdoors, while the arrangement of the buildings provides privacy and natural overlooking.

The development comprises one and two-bedroom cottage flats, primarily designed for older residents. Ground-floor homes incorporate level-access bathing and layouts informed by Housing for Varying Needs principles, with features including glazed internal doors and sunpipes helping to bring natural light deeper into the homes.

A restrained palette of grey-buff brick references the blonde sandstone of neighbouring buildings and the retained boundary walls. Projecting and recessed brick detailing introduces texture and depth, while zinc-clad roof elements take cues from the dormer windows of the surrounding Victorian buildings. This considered response to material and context was recognised with a Commendation in the Urban Regeneration category at the 2018 Brick Awards.

Together, the architecture and landscape create a quiet, contemporary addition to the neighbourhood, drawing on the character of its historic surroundings while providing accessible new homes around a welcoming shared garden.