Set in 2060 the current M&S site on Albert Street, Nottingham, has been redeveloped into a collective living scheme that tackles loneliness in the older population. The unit’s ethos is focused on reflecting on the stories / narratives of a place within a sustainable future considering a degrowth post-carbon society. The proposal draws on the monastic collective way of living and historic themes in order to offer calmer, communal spaces to generate a stronger connection to St Peter’s Church on site. 

To design against loneliness, the aim was to envision a series of active, green spaces based around chance, community and sustainable urban farming. This allows for a dense village-like cloister collective living scheme where each demographic on site can help each other through food-based activities like farming, dining, sharing and selling. It provides spaces for quiet contemplation but also for opportunity and engagement through the celebration of busy, everyday living. The dwellings and communal areas share a common design theme of connections through planes / enfilades that allow for concentrated glimpses of activity across the scheme.