Beech Gardens, Ludlow

An uplifting and inclusive environment for independent living

Beech Gardens is designed to be social and inclusive to improve the quality of life for older people. Credit: Curtis McNally

West Midlands RIBA Regional Award 2019

K4 Architects for Connexus
Contract value: £2.7m
GIA: 1,799m²
Cost per m²: £1,501

Delivered by a regional housing association, Beech Gardens is a sheltered accommodation scheme providing 26 well proportioned, light-filled dual aspect apartments for older people. It has been designed to Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation principles with the aim of providing tenants with a sociable and inspiring home. A simple pitched roof block is elevated to the south by winter gardens, which provide a social heart to the scheme, and to the north by a covered access deck. The materials and simple detailing help make the project an exemplar of how architecture can provide an uplifting and inclusive environment for independent living.

The scheme has access decks with scooter charging points at each front door, on ground floor and first floor levels. Credit: Curtis McNally
Beech Gardens, Ludlow, provides 26 apartments for older people. Credit: Curtis McNally
To the north elevation K4 Architects has designed winter gardens which the tenants have spared no time in personalising. Credit: Curtis McNally