Queens Drive, Woodbridge
Nestled in the former grounds of Woodbridge School and forming part of the Woodbridge Conservation Area, Queens Drive draws heavily upon local history and local heritage.
The project mostly comprises of new build residential development, but the crowning glory is the conversion of Queens House, an elegant former schoolhouse dating back to the Edwardian period. This building firmly plants itself within the rich heritage of Woodbridge as well as the wide range of mature trees on site. The development delivers a total of thirty-two 2, 3-and 4-bedroom new and converted homes across the site.
The design and layout reflect all that is great about traditional design and detailing. The material palette is in keeping with this concept, reinforced by a relatively low housing density and a heavily landscaped layout. Architectural features have been referenced from within the conservation area and replicated on the different house styles to compliment the local vernacular.
Woodbridge town centre is within walking distance with a wide range of high street and cultural attractions.
The bespoke homes are of 2 and 3 storey and are traditionally designed. Detail is carefully added through brickwork, roofscapes, fenestration, enclosures, and materials as well as the urban form, scale, grain, and arrangement of the buildings themselves. The dominate of Queens House helps to provide a great sense of arrival into the site, setting the scene for the quality feel of the development. The sloping lawn and mature grounds in front of Queens House adds as much to the sense of place as the built form.
High-quality brick and stonework, clay tiles and natural slates help to both embed the site within its historical context and ensure its longevity many years to come. Similarly, modern materials help to firmly place the development in the 21st century, ensuring high standards of energy thermal performance.
The design evolution benefitted from an attention to detail to ensure that it functioned as good as it looked. There were challenges in terms of parking provision, levels and drainage as much as ensuring that internally the new homes maximised their potential and “wow” factor. Such design attention should ensure that the effective usability of the site as well as a sense of pride in having a high-quality home.
The interiors provide a range of traditional and open plan living styles that have been careful designed to ensure maximum use of space and flow of natural light. The interiors are however far from traditional and are aimed at modern contemporary living blending the best of both with a focus on ‘future ready’ with ultra-fast broadband infrastructure with combined terrestrial, sky and DAB technology as standard along with data points and CAT 6 cabling to all habitable rooms. A high-quality finish from inside to out has helped Rose gain praise from new homeowners.
Queens Drive delivers a wonderful collection of new homes for Woodbridge, fit for the 21st Century and beyond –a place where people aspire to move to and are proud to own.