The Quality Initiative in Housing in Northern Ireland was launched by the government in 1996. Its aim was to raise awareness of the importance of good design and quality in the built environment within new residential developments, and indeed two of the practices early schemes,
The Steadings at Drumbo and Malone Limes on
the Malone Road in Belfast were highlighted as exemplars.
Since its launch the practice has been leading the field in interpreting the aspirations of the Initiative and turning them into reality through collaborative work with client bodies, and other consultants. Through study tours and research, both internationally and locally, we have built up wide ranging awareness of current thinking in the sector and have been able to utilise this knowledge to inform our design solutions, within private and social housing schemes, in both urban and out of town locations.
We are also very aware of the ecological impact of housing and have been working for a number of years with clients on achieving increasingly better Eco Homes ratings and more recently the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Similarly we are conscious in housing that it is not only the building that is important but the space around the building that forms the place we want to call home. In this respect we work closely with leading urban designers, roads engineers and landscape architects to deliver integrated and environmentally responsive solutions.