Overview
The redevelopment will enhance the quality of life for residents while preserving the site’s historical and cultural context. Embodying the principles of sanctuary, community, and custodianship, it integrates the almshouse within its urban setting while prioritising security and well-being. The proposal focuses on rationalising spatial configurations to optimise functionality and improve living conditions while carefully working within the constraints of the existing fabric.
Images
The approach carefully balances the need for both public and private spaces, fostering a clear distinction between communal and personal realms, whilst sensitively adapting the building for modern use. This thoughtful intervention will respect the continuity of the Charterhouse’s legacy, aligning with both its historical values and the evolving needs of its community. There is a clear need to care for older people in a more enlightened and humane way and in this, the model of the almshouse, with individual rooms and communal spaces, has much to offer and compared with the more anodyne, anonymous character of modern sheltered housing or care homes, the Charterhouse’s historic architecture offers a uniquely compelling kind of visual and experiential stimulation which will enrich residents’ daily lives and improve their well-being.
