Benefits – Architectural
- Examples
- A Possible Plan
- Downland Reference
- Integrating living, working and visiting
- An approach that takes advantage of a unique landscape
- An approach that offers a new artistic perspective
- An approach that creates a new gateway to the South Downs National Park
The critical importance of an ambitious development
In approaching the architectural objectives of the South Down Project, we have established one central criteria as our key aim: to ensure that the architecture created within the chalk pit specifically references and “belongs to” the pit’s context and heritage.
To this end, the dominant visual theme of the development should be completely harmonious with its setting, so the skyline and silhouette of the building mass will be a series of curves that reflect the surrounding downland.
This theme of reflecting the natural shape making of the Downs, will be enhanced by the planting of indigenous species such as Hawthorn, Dogwood, Guelder Rose and Wayfaring trees in specific areas across large, curved, roof modules. These modules will also integrate areas that accommodate light, ventilation and photovoltaic cells into their curving structure, further enhancing the effect of a patchwork that references the fields of a typical downland landscape.
Three critical reasons why an ambitious scheme is required to successfully develop the chalk pit site
Firstly: the site deserves it. It’s situated at the centre of the South Downs National Park (recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty), and it has a rich cultural, social, geographic and industrial history. To throw away the opportunity to create something beautiful in such a remarkable setting would be a scandal that future generations would simply consider an act of vandalism.
Secondly: only an ambitious plan will attract enough investment to accommodate the cost of removal of the cement works and the integration of non-commercial, educational, and sustainable elements into the development. Any scheme that doesn’t have a “Wow” factor, will just not attract enough investment to be economically viable.
Thirdly: only an ambitious scheme can genuinely fulfil the diverse requirements of the South Downs National Park, Worthing and Adur Council, Horsham Council, all the local Parish Councils, the Core Strategy requirements of the relevant Councils, the demands of Naturalists, Ecologists, the Sustainability requirements, the needs of the local population, targets for housing numbers, and the criteria established in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework.
