Innovative Leeds’ sustainable developer Citu is celebrating again as the team picked up their 30th award for Greenhouse, their pioneering low carbon development in Beeston.
Greenhouse was cited by judges at the Leeds Architecture Awards as “a successful and courageous undertaking” as the development netted the award for Best Altered Building.
Greenhouse was born out of 1930’s workers lodge Shaftesbury House, which Citu transformed into a modern, high tech, low carbon mixed use development, now often referenced as ‘a building of the future’ and houses a community of 250 residents and 50 office workers.
Shaftesbury House was earmarked for demolition when Citu registered interest in the site, after being derelict for 10 years.
Citu Director, Chris Thompson said:
“It’s great to win this award and we’re really proud of what we’ve achieved with Greenhouse. It was important to us to utilise as much of the original building as possible and having stripped it down and built it back up again, it now has a real future.
“The design of the building is key to its identity but we were also keen to ensure the internal structure contributed to the overall vision. The courtyard was in existence in essence and we loved this layout of the original building. With the deli, gym and allotments that are now incorporated within it, this space now provides a real community hub that’s at the heart of the building.”
A whole host of renewable technologies are at work to make Greenhouse the multi award-winning low carbon development that it is including an open loop borehole and ground source heat pump system; solar thermal panels; wind turbines and grey water recycling.
