Newmarket Road

Autumnal visualisation of the proposed view from Newmarket Road, Cambridge | architects CDC Studio — Visualisation of Newmarket Road elevation

".... the proposals are successful in creating a contextually appropriate building, by virtue of a careful consideration of scale and massing, urban grain, and the interface within the street frontage."

Cambridge City Urban Design

Sketch diagram that illustrates the proposed internal layout and primary access points | cambridge architects CDC Studio — Concept sketch

Our design aspirations for this project are to produce high quality residential and commercial spaces with an emphasis upon careful use of materiality and an appropriateness of form and scale.

The site of the proposed building is located at 73-75 Newmarket Road and is within the Market Ward to the North East of Cambridge City Centre. Located within the Riverside and Stourbridge Common conservation area, and is on the edge of the Kite conservation area.

Existing site photo of newmarket road cambridge looking towards elizabeth way roundabout | cambridge architects CDC Studio

Site Context

Understanding the site, the constraints and opportunities, informed the initial concept , massing and impact on the site.

3d white bim model of existing newmarket road building | cambridge architects CDC Studio

3d bim model showing the heights of adjacent buildings on newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio

3d bim model showing the greenery adjacent to the site on newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio

3d bim model showing planning policy boundaries on newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio

3d bim model showing orientation and sunlight path on newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio

The Site

The proposed development will deliver a ground floor residential unit and 9 flats at first, second and third floors.

Visualisation of proposed building in its context on newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio — Aerial visualisation

The massing for the scheme creates a series of volumes responding to the constraints of the site. Angled segments create a finer proportion to each elevation and a slender, vertical appearance to the front facade. Ground-floor cutaways allow for distinct thresholds creating a finer grain response to the site that sits comfortably in the streetscape.

Confident Street Frontage

We recognised the importance of maintaining a confident street frontage, with a robust, solid element along the ground floor to address the street and act as a plinth for the massing above. This also relates to the predominantly Georgian context of the conservation area with its distinct horizontal banding, classical ordering and strong ground floor base.

Elevation illustrating the solid ground floor plinth on newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio

Proportion & The Golden Ratio

Careful studies into the sequence of openings have helped ground the building in terms of proportion and scale. The alternating scale of the vertical fins differentiates areas of glazing and provides privacy and solar shading to the upper floor residences. This textural, layered approach creates a softer tonal quality suitable for the domesticity of the building.

Elevation illustrating the ratio of glazing and materials on the facade newmarket road | cambridge architects CDC Studio

Vertical Louvres

Due to the prominent position of the site upon Newmarket Road, and the presence of existing dwellings to the west and north of the site, the facade design incorporates vertical louvres of varying spacing. These louvres provide privacy to the inhabitants and also prevent overlooking into neighbouring properties.