Orchard Gardens

ECE Architecture

A contemporary residential scheme that reflects its industrial past, reimagining heritage materials through a modern lens while creating a harmonious addition to Hove’s diverse urban fabric.

Orchard Gardens strikes a delicate visual balance between two worlds. To the south and east lie industrial and commercial buildings, whilst residential homes define the western boundary. Our design mediates this transition, creating a development that respects both contexts through thoughtful materiality, scale, and architectural language.

Nestled amongst Hove’s green spaces, this development delivers 36 residential dwellings alongside nearly 300sqm of commercial space. The scheme’s character draws inspiration from the site’s previous incarnation as a Panelworks building, celebrating this industrial heritage while reimagining it for modern living. Distinctive architectural elements include dual-aspect corner windows and carefully considered solar shading through vertical louvres and brise-soleil, enhancing both aesthetics and performance.

The primary design challenge involved creating a building that could serve as a visual bridge between contrasting urban contexts. We approached this by reinterpreting industrial materials in a contemporary residential language, allowing the development to feel at home within both worlds. The distinctive green standing seam metal roof establishes a visual dialogue with the adjacent Dugard Tools building, acknowledging the site’s industrial neighbours while creating a fresh architectural identity.

Sustainability drives the technical approach throughout Orchard Gardens. We employed an efficient form factor and fabric-first principles to minimise energy demand from the outset. Glazing percentages have been meticulously calculated according to façade orientation, working alongside the bespoke solar shading elements to prevent overheating while maximising natural light. The roof accommodates air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels, further reducing the development’s environmental impact.

Orchard Gardens demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can celebrate industrial heritage while creating comfortable homes for modern living. By respecting both past and present contexts, the development contributes positively to Hove’s evolving townscape, creating a distinctive place that feels both new and deeply connected to its surroundings.