Later Living/Supported Living Design of the Year

Winner : “Dovehouse Court Almshouses" by Mole Architects

Dovehouse Court, designed by Mole Architects for Girton Town Charity, is a new Passivhaus-certified almshouse development in Girton, Cambridge. Completed in 2023, this project offers accessible, community-focussed housing with 15 energy-efficient, one-bedroom homes. Arranged around a landscaped communal courtyard, the development comprises five bungalows and ten apartments, reflecting the traditional almshouse typology. The white brick exteriors and colourful doors bring a vibrant yet cohesive aesthetic to the village.

Historically, almshouses served the needy and infirm, and have often been associated with a particular group, serving older members of a church or the military. Girton Town Charity continues this legacy by offering affordable housing to those with a close connection to Girton. Dovehouse Court replaces six outdated almshouses, providing modern homes that meet M4(2) access requirements, exceed local space standards, and adapt to residents’ changing needs. Each home features spacious rooms, abundant natural light, and private terraces, with communal gardens that encourage social interaction.

Sustainability is at the heart of this development, with a prefabricated timber structure ensuring airtightness and thermal efficiency. The fully electric scheme includes air source heat pumps and MVHR systems, reducing residents' living costs while maintaining comfort. The development integrates seamlessly into its semi-rural surroundings, enhancing biodiversity and residents' well-being through thoughtful landscape design.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

A modest building that in the skilled hands of this architect becomes wonderfully generous in its execution. An ambitious and laudable approach to sustainability, that puts the user front and centre.

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These modern day Alms Houses' demonstrate how community should be at the heart of every senior living project.

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This project stands out as technically progressive and is essential in today's discussions on sustainability, affordable housing, and Passivhaus standards. The attention to detail, such as the articulation of the roof joists and the vibrant coloured doors, adds a welcoming human touch to the design.

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This is an ambitious and bold design that puts sustainability at the heart of the project and gives the residents a real community space to drive wellbeing and happiness for everyone who lives there.

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Later Living/Supported Living Design of the Year

Winner : “Dovehouse Court Almshouses" by Mole Architects

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:

A modest building that in the skilled hands of this architect becomes wonderfully generous in its execution. An ambitious and laudable approach to sustainability, that puts the user front and centre.

—

These modern day Alms Houses' demonstrate how community should be at the heart of every senior living project.

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This is an ambitious and bold design that puts sustainability at the heart of the project and gives the residents a real community space to drive wellbeing and happiness for everyone who lives there.

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