Copyright: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

The Accordia residential masterplan has been selected by RIBA as Stirling Prize finalists, hailed as setting new standards for high density housing.

Led by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley, the scheme is considered a case study for the innovative integration of public and private housing.

Accordia is on a 9.5 hectare site , providing 212 houses and 166 apartments, 30% of which fall into the 'affordable' category, integrated in both scale and materials with the private housing.

The masterplan is designed for pedestrian and cycle use with landscaped pedestrian streets and cycle parking and car parking space kept to a minimum, which RIBA described as “a joy to walk through.”

The scheme includes a variety of innovative house and apartment types in the form of terraces and courts.

Landscaped public gardens are also a significant feature of the Accordia, which is according to RIBA “is high density housing at its very best."

Beautifully thought-through houses are linked by a series of public, semi-public and private but visible open spaces. Houses and flats have good-sized, well-proportioned rooms with views out ranging from the urban views to rural pasture.”

“This development proves that good modern housing sells, that a committed local authority can have a very positive influence on the design, that a masterplan with a range of architects can be successful and that the very best architecture does not need to rely on gimmicks.”