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smith’s dock plateau
client:
urban splash
location:
north shields
size:
24 houses
cost:
£5 million
The elevated area of land to the back of the Smith’s Dock masterplan formed the site for the Plateau – the first phase of the Smith’s Dock development and second completed project using our factory-built Town Houses. The Plateau site parameters are set by the Smith’s Dock site boundary adjacent to Lawson Street, Coach Lane and the natural topography of the site by way of curved embankments along the existing distributor road and surrounding properties.
The Plateau site is generally level and set approximately 10m above the dockside areas. The level remains lower than the surrounding residential and light industrial buildings, whilst being elevated above the remaining development. The natural topography of the site provided the opportunity to create a strip of residential properties that follow the curved embankment in the form of a crescent which commands elevated views across the site and over the River Tyne.
The general layout of the site accommodates a central landscaped orchard surrounded by two different house types, our 3 storey Town Houses on the crescent and another 2 storey house type by TDO Architecture. The orientation of the buildings provides a route between the pedestrian connections from the dock below and the streets leading to the town centre. Vehicular access is provided from the distributor road running through Smith’s dock.
The site layout is designed to ensure all of the houses have a view out to the generous central green space, communal orchard and wildflower meadow. This green includes a natural swale with wetland wildflower meadow, which wraps around the orchard and forms part of the sustainable drainage strategy for the Plateau site.
An enclosed communal resident’s garden is provided to the east of the crescent, consisting of a central circular lawn defined by a simple self-binding gravel path and maritime planting. The garden is designed as a space for neighbours to socialise and relax, whilst enjoying the elevated views out across the River Tyne and the estuary beyond.
