The integrated retirement community (IRC) project at Shiplake Meadows, is the continuation of a long-standing relationship between NBA and retirement specialists Probitas Developments.

Located on the perimeter of Shiplake Village, South Oxfordshire, the 65 unit development consists of a mix of assisted living, two bed apartments and 2 bed cottages positioned around a communal clubhouse building. The project is being developed by the Joint venture partnership of Galliard Homes, Probitas Developments, O’Shea.

Concept sketch showing the initial clubhouse identity

The site itself is characterised by a long south east facing slope surrounded by a well established tree boundary on three sides. The landscape design solution to the project t was heavily influenced by the inherent site slop, its contours and the a proposed continuation of the tree lined perimeter.

The enclosed screened sylvan setting enables the development to created crafted smaller landscaped settings with internal views and courtyards between buildings. Specimens trees are used to establish localised identities and vistas to gardens and public squares. Seasonal colour, foliage and blossom were considered to ensure areas of landscaped distinction.

The design approach at Shiplake Meadows was heavily influenced by the local design guides particularly the much valued Chilterns Design Guide. A mix of the classic local materials of red brick, clay roof tile and timber cladding bond the proposed buildings to their context.

The positioning of the Clubhouse Building was critical for the orientation of residents.

It had to be close to them all and where possible visible. The language of the building should be implied clearly identifying the entry point and which areas where communal and those that were for service facilities.

Placing the building on the centre of the site allowed these values to be accommodated. The positioning of the external emenity speces also took in the inherent diurnal range making the most of the sunpath and its subsequent shadows.

As a retirement community with apartments, which provide for single level living, the scale of building is important to manage. At Shiplake Meadows the length of the buildings has been carefully broken up in massing by using repetitive small pitched roof forms typical of the locality.

This terraced gable ended form is continued as a design philosophy onto the cottages bonding all the buildings into a ‘family’ of familiar forms. The clubhouse building also takes on this extruded gable end characteristic with its large open southern elevation which includes the communal cafe/club room with a sunny southwest aspect.

The project has followed a strict ‘fabric first’ approach to construction with insulation levels. Based on Passivhaus standards to ensure that energy consumption is retained to a minimum in this energy conscious development sector.

Additionally the whole scheme is provided with heating and cooling via environmentally supportive Air Source Heat Pumps carefully located throughout the masterplan layout ensuring minimum visibility and maximum acoustic screening.