Introducing Futurehome: a generation ahead
Futurehome is on its way to Elephant Park, our award-winning urban regeneration project which will deliver 3,000 new homes by 2025, as well as a brand new park, 50 new shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as a net-zero carbon energy to all the new homes.
Futurehome is a collection of 15 three and four-bedroom townhouses designed to world-leading Passivhaus standards, setting a new standard for sustainable residential development and representing a huge milestone for the project. As we unveil these very special homes, we spoke to Elephant Park Project Director Rob Heasman and Sustainability Manager Matt Smith to find out more about why Futurehome is so exciting.
Where did the concept for Futurehome come from and how does it fit with your overall vision?
Rob Heasman: “Futurehome is borne out of a desire to innovate and to always try and go one step further. This sums up the whole ethos of Elephant Park, where with each phase we have brought forward we have tried to introduce new ways of doing things. For example, at the Stirling Prize-shortlisted Trafalgar Place, we used cross-laminated timber on 30 of the homes, which is an incredibly sustainable and innovative replacement for traditional concrete. Then at One The Elephant, we’ve been able to deliver the project to Code for Sustainable for Homes Level 4, making it one of the first tall buildings in the UK to be delivered to this standard.
Project Director, Rob Heasman
“We’re delivering 3,000 homes in total so when you’re designing and building at this scale it brings an opportunity to incrementally test and improve products and services and to offer more choice to our customers - Futurehome is a great example of this visionary approach.
“It is also important to remember what a rare opportunity it is to be able to build so many new townhouses in the heart of zone 1 London. We wanted to do something special here and hopefully people will agree we have.”
How important is innovation like Futurehome in the overall context of sustainable urban regeneration?
Rob Heasman: “It’s the duty of any developer operating at this scale to be constantly looking at how to innovate – you simply can’t take on a 15-year project without a forward-thinking approach or it just wouldn’t work.
“There is a meticulous attention-to-detail amongst the team on this project that is perfectly-demonstrated by Futurehome. The development is being designed and delivered by a dedicated team who are based on site less than 100m from where the homes are going up, and this team will be involved in the management of the project moving forward. That brings a level of care and attention we’re really proud of.
“The fact that we’re developing Futurehome at Elephant Park, which is the only project in the UK to be part of the C40 Cities Climate Positive Development Program, gives you a feel for just how special this project is as a model for sustainable urban regeneration.
How does Futurehome deliver more than other high-spec sustainability homes on the market?
Matthew Smith: “Aside from being highly efficient in energy and water use, one of the things that truly sets Futurehome apart is the blend of classic design with the industry-leading Passivhaus standards. This is not an overt ‘eco-home’ that stands out from its neighbours. Rather, it is important for us that these homes are as comfortable in their surroundings as they will be comfortable for the people who will live in them for many years to come.”
Sustainability Manager, Matthew Smith
Rob Heasman: “Given the traditional Victorian character of the houses on the opposite side of the street, which sit in a Conservation Area, we needed to respond appropriately to the local context but with a modern approach. In particular, we wanted an emphasis on helping people to live a healthier lifestyle as well as being firmly rooted in the community. In doing so, we actually made life a lot harder for ourselves and really challenged the team when it came to the design and build – we’re delighted to have been able to rise to this challenge and create a finished product that is absolutely worth the additional effort.
“Another key thing about these homes is that their benefits extend beyond the buildings themselves – it’s also about the community they are a part of. For example, the homes will be situated close to the fantastic new park we are delivering as part of the development – the first phase of which will be delivered this summer. You also have the new state-of-the-art Castle leisure Centre that One The Elephant has helped to deliver, a new shopping street that will be full of local, independent shops and even a new nursery just a stone’s throw away from these homes.”
Tell us more about how Futurehome will allow residents to live healthier lifestyles?
Matthew Smith: “Futurehome offers a level of comfort and quality which is a direct result of the stringent design and build processes we’re working to as part of our ambition to build to Passivhaus standards.
“Futurehome’s smart technology and Passivhaus design will help its residents live a more comfortable, healthier lifestyle – often without them realising it. Residents will experience tangible day-to-day benefits, these homes will never get damp, can maintain a constant temperature and will improve indoor air quality thanks to the homes’ state-of-the-art filtration systems. The homes are also designed to shade the sun depending on the time of day and year to maximise access to natural daylight whilst reducing direct sunlight in the summer months.
“When someone has lived in a Futurehome and experienced its features first hand we believe they’re naturally going to find themselves invested in a healthier lifestyle as a result and, hopefully in the long-run, become advocates for these homes.
“As Rob has said before, it’s not just about the home itself, it’s about the whole development and the healthier lifestyle options that Elephant Park as a whole will allow. The sustainable transport infrastructure, walking routes, bike paths and green spaces gives you the choice not to drive. With easy access to local shops and other facilities, you’ve got everything you need to live a ‘greener’ lifestyle without feeling the need to make sacrifices or consciously opt for a ‘sustainable lifestyle’.
Why is health and wellbeing an important issue for Lendlease and how does Futurehome respond to the health and wellbeing agenda?
Rob Heasman: “The Lendlease approach to sustainability goes beyond only addressing environmental concerns and extends into a social sustainability space – health and wellbeing is a fundamental part of this. Futurehome is one way of demonstrating this approach but again, it goes back to the role of these homes as part of a community that delivers a healthier lifestyle not just to those who live directly within it but to those who live around it and pass through it.”
To register your interest in Futurehome please contact our sales team at [email protected]
