The Merchants
Elia Orme,
University of Derby
The Merchants project aims to regenerate the existing North Riverside brownfield site, revitalising the area and reconnecting the site to the city centre. Overall, the scheme aims to form an environment in which green urban living may be facilitated and actively encouraged in the design as a means to combat the climate emergency and the mental health crisis in the UK. The design seeks to provide the traditional ‘townhouse’ aesthetic, within a city setting. Externally, the site has been completely re-landscaped to transform the area from a site lacking biodiversity. A distinctive material palette is used throughout with vernacular buff and red bricks used to define the public realm and residential areas respectively. The construction of the ground floor walls will be reinforced concrete with an external brick slip finish with a cavity drain system internally to remove water. Light steel framing (SFS) is used in the residential facilities for recyclability, lightweight properties and ability to be prefabricated. The pitched roofs will be covered using solar standing seam to maximise the solar potential and PV arrays to the roof. MVHR units will provide means of ventilation and maintain optimum air quality in the houses.
