Marlowes

The Marlowes is one of the main streets in Hemel Hempstead and was part of the wider Gade area regeneration of the town centre. This scheme involved the conversion of the bank building to the front of the site and a new build scheme on a car park to the rear.

The new build scheme responded carefully to the existing urban fabric with a fresh, modern approach. Large windows and brick detailing add interest to the facade, while render cladding to the top floor reduced the overall massing of the new apartment blocks.

The two buildings were positioned on the site to reflect the historical positions of the houses along the Marlowes and brick walls which denoted the old garden boundaries formed part of the landscaping strategy. The site levels were reduced to respect the character of the existing listed buildings to the front and to reduce the visible portion of the buildings from the Marlowes.

The bank building at the front was converted to residental apartments under permitted development, and an existing plant space on the roof was enclosed to create a penthouse apartment to maximise the value of the site.