In
recent years some of Liverpool's most notable buildings have been
rescued from dereliction by developer Urban Splash.
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| The
Collegiate, Liverpool 漏 ShedKM |
Working
primarily within the North West, projects such as The Collegiate
kick-started a trend for city living via stylish regeneration.
A
former Victorian school designed by Harvey Lansdale Elves, the
architect responsible for St Georges Hall, local firm ShedKM were
recruited to implement a bold, contemporary interior.
Now
the pair have again joined forces to address the lack of affordable,
city-centre homes for first time buyers and key workers who find
themselves priced out of the market.
MOHO,
an acronym for 'modular homes' is the result.
"The
scheme provides complete modules, entirely self-contained and
finished units," explains James Weston, Director of ShedKM.
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| Moho:
kitchen view |
"The
floor finishes are down, all the plasterwork is done, it's painted,
the kitchen and bathroom's in - a completely pre-finished unit
that is lifted into site."
The
first private sector residential homes to be mass produced in
this way, a debut scheme is currently underway in Manchester where
102 units are stacked at a rate of 6 per day to form a multi-storey
structure.
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"Moho
spiralled out of an initial brief... which was to provide
tighter, smaller city centre accommodation"
Click
here to listen
|
The
complex is expected to reach completion within two months of the
first unit arriving on site; an underground car-park having been
completed during the manufacturing process to maximise efficiency.
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| Urban
Splash marketing director Fiona Woodward gives one of the
completed apartments a final check in the factory |
"Everyone
thinks it's an incredible hi-tech way of building something but
all we're doing is using the same, traditional building components,"
explains James Weston.
Pre-fab
architecture has typically been limited to the commercial sector
and hotel trade where fast build projects are prone to increasing
demand.
More
recently, housing associations such as The Peabody Trust have
experimented with pre-fab homes.
One
reason for this is that they lend themselves to eco-friendly options
such as solar cells and rainwater recycling systems; which can
be costly and difficult to implement in renovated housing stock.
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| Moho
- private interior courtyard |
The
stigma that once affected high-rise living due to dilapidated
sixties towers and resulting social problems is now rapidly on
the decline.
"Historically
in the UK, everyone has wanted their own their own individual
house. But in the past ten years, apartment schemes have started
to fluorish," reflects James Weston.
"The
flats that went up after the war were of poor construction and
led to problems that have marred perceptions of high-rise living.
|
"The
first apartment of the day arrives at 8.30am - they subsequently
arrive on lorries every 1and a half hours"
Click
here to listen
|
"Yet
if you pop over the channel to Paris, people predominantly live
in apartments.
"Appetites
are different. It's no longer seen as undesirable.
"Tastes
are starting to change."
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| Shed
KM director James Weston (left) & Moho Project Architect,
Nick Birch |
All
of the apartments have an external balcony, while the one-bed
plus and two bed include a glazed dining 'pod'. Utilities and
storage space are concealed behind sliding doors.
Prices
start at 拢143,000 up to 拢200,000 for a two-bedroom
apartment. Included in the cost is a range of designer furniture,
from the sofa and bed to a washing machine and fitted kitchen.
It
is hoped that MOHO will extend to the rest of the North West and
across the UK - particularly the South East and London.
|
"People
have started to discover modern design and are living in
apartment schemes again"
Click
here to listen
|
There
a shortage of starter properties coupled with soaring prices has
paralyzed the lower end of the market.
Although
still out of reach for many, as projects such as this increase
and the construction phase becomes standard, as opposed to unusual,
it is hoped that all budgets will be catered for.
After
all, in Scandinavia the furniture chain IKEA already provide flat
pack kit homes in addition to the sea of tea lights and laminate
coffee tables.
The
day approaches when your shopping list might include a starter
home alongside the toilet rolls.
Just
be sure to choose a matching shade.
听
