Located in Lewisham, Melfield Gardens is the UK’s first fully affordable intergenerational housing development, designed to tackle loneliness and housing shortages by bringing older residents and students together. The scheme addresses social isolation, loneliness, and housing shortages by combining homes for older residents and students.
Delivered as two buildings with 32 homes, including 30 homes for residents aged 55+ and 2 student flats, the project is arranged around landscaped communal gardens with seating areas, pedestrian routes, and flexible social spaces that encourage interaction across generations.
Designed to Passivhaus standards, Melfield Gardens prioritises energy efficiency, future-proofing, and reduced utility costs for residents. Every detail, from building orientation and triple-glazed windows to mechanical ventilation and communal garden access, was carefully considered to balance comfort, sustainability, and neighbourliness. We are proud to have achieved Passivhaus Classic certification, underscoring our commitment to the highest standards of energy performance and occupant wellbeing.
The BBC followed two residents, Grandmother Claire, 60, and student Morley, 28, to explore their experiences of life at Melfield Gardens. Claire told the BBC: “It’s lovely to have people around, it really makes you feel part of a community. The students help bring energy and life into the building, and it’s great to share experiences with them.”
Read the BBC News article here – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9292wgxnqo
This project built on the success of Phoenix Community Housing’s award-winning Hazelhurst Court development, located in the same street, and brought together the same trusted team, Potter Raper, Levitt Bernstein, and Etude.
Our Role
We were appointed by Phoenix Community Housing to provide a range of multi-discipline service throughout the project, including:
Our team ensured health and safety compliance, oversaw construction quality, managed budgets, and maintained effective communication between stakeholders throughout delivery. Key contributions included:
- MEP Stakeholder Engagement
- Resident Engagement & Site Logistics
- Network Rail Liaison
- Network Rail Design Response
- Rights of Light
- Electricity Network Upgrade Changes
Through careful management, we added significant value by creating a collaborative and effective relationship between the client and design team, helping to deliver a high-quality Passivhaus development.
We worked closely with Levitt Bernstein Architects, Etude Sustainability and Max Fordham M&E Engineers, to ensure the project met quality, cost, and programme targets while achieving Passivhaus standards.
Key project highlights:
- Flexible, dual-aspect “one-bedroom-plus” homes for older residents, adaptable for study, hobbies, or home offices
- Intergenerational model with students contributing to community engagement via a Good Neighbour Agreement
- Communal garden and shared indoor spaces that foster neighbourly interaction and social connection
- Energy-efficient, low-carbon, Passivhaus-compliant buildings with careful façade articulation, decorative brickwork, and attention to human scale
Awards & Recognition
- Best Healthy Home – Inside Housing Development Awards 2025
- Housing Design Awards 2021 – GLA Award
- Inside Housing Award
Melfield Gardens is more than a housing scheme, it’s a community-first, sustainable, intergenerational landmark in Lewisham. The project demonstrates how thoughtful design and collaboration can enhance lives across all ages, while prioritising the environment through Passivhaus standards.
Read more: https://potterraper.co.uk/project/melfield-gardens/
Image Credit: Phoenix Community Housing
