Village Housing, Suffolk

These 18 houses were built on the site of redundant outbuildings in the village of Risby, near Bury St. Edmunds. The scheme was designed by Charles Morris prior to the founding of Hoare Ridge & Morris and won a ‘What House’ award in 2008.

The project was commissioned by a family who wanted to maintain control over the quality of what was built on their land.  The proposals were developed in collaboration with a housebuilder.

The scheme includes affordable housing which is fully integrated into the scheme.  The buildings are generally restrained in character and use a coherent palette of good quality local materials, creating interest through the configuration of the houses and public spaces.

A generous green square addresses the street and helps to connect the new development to the village.  Boundaries are defined by the buildings themselves and by brick and flint walls and native hedges.