Four Core Principles
The original brief of the “Concept Blackwood House” was developed to provide a flexible, modern home to suit varying levels of needs and support for residents without the requirement for major alteration or relocation. The basis of the house is therefore built around the core containing the more inflexible components allowing various permutations for the expansion of the spaces around.
The Blackwood House has been designed around 4 main design principles that will influence the design and evolution of the Blackwood house going forward. These 4 principles are;
Accessible
Designed with a simple modular grid as the base point with the main services being located centrally within the core. The core has been designed to house the main bathroom and kitchen area fixed elements within the household. By locating these items centrally within the core hub, the space around becomes highly flexible and adaptable to suit any specific requirements. This also allows for large open space more suited to wheelchairs users benefits. Kitchen and Bathroom areas have also been designed to accommodate flexible and adjustable components allowing each individual to customise these areas to suit any and all needs they may have.
Affordable
The UK currently faces a shortage of new houses being built compounded with a growing population and increased demand resulting in surging costs. This makes it difficult for a lot of people to buy/rent homes especially homes to suit their needs. Blackwood aims to ensure costs are kept as low as possible by maintaining simple design decision, utilising space effectively, upcycling and locally sourced materials where possible as well as future offsite manufacturing beside sustainable green technology to improve the overall fabric of the home to rely less on expensive heating solutions. Blackwood aims to continually learn and educate themselves to improve and inform future projects and decisions.
Beautiful
Nowhere do we feel the benefit of good, beautiful design more than in our own homes and the spaces around them. We eat, sleep, work, rest and play here. In an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world, our homes represent stability and security. Good design is not just about the aesthetic improvement of our environment, it is as much about improved quality of life, equality of opportunity and economic growth. By utilising modern construction methods and materials throughout, this can lead to improved perception of not only the house but also the environment which impacts on how people feel and create a sense of worth and place.
Connected
By utilising modern smart technology as well as Blackwoods bespoke CleverCogs system, the blackwood house keeps you connected to the world as well as promoting independent living all while being in full control of your home. At the heart of CleverCogs is the touch screen home hub. It enables people to stay in touch with friends and family, including video chatting with them. They can catch up on their interests, access information they want to see and receive convenient reminders of any appointments, care visits or medication they need to take. It also enables Blackwood to build bespoke care and response around the individual, taking into account both formal and informal care needs.
It is intended that this Design Guide will provide sufficient information to allow it to be used as a template for development by others to meet the requirements of Blackwood Homes and respect the design concept. It includes layouts for a 2 bed flat as well as 4 & 5 bedroom houses, all of which incorporate the requisite space standards, energy efficiency standards, and component outline specifications.