RSH+P opens first modular housing scheme for the YMCA
photography © grant smith

 

 

 

the youth charity YMCA has opened its first ‘Y:cube’ development; a complex for single people in need of housing, designed by rogers stirk harbour + partners. located in south west london, the project is designed as accommodation for people leaving homelessness hostels and supported housing schemes. each of the 36 residences is being rented out at 65% of the area’s market rate, a saving attributed to the project’s construction method, which resulted in an unusually quick build time of around five months.

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
the scheme is located in mitcham, a district of south west london

 

 

 

the Y:cube units were all built off-site before being transported to london. construction on the three-storey site started in march 2015 and the last home was completed in august. the site’s communal courtyard has been named george williams court, after the founder of YMCA. similar schemes are planned across london and parts of england in the near future.

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
the development serves as accommodation for people leaving homelessness hostels

 

 

 

‘Y:cube offers generous space and exceptional insulation, daylight and acoustics,’ explains ivan harbour, senior partner at RSHP. ‘by delivering high-quality accommodation using quick and cost-effective volumetric technology, we hope to offer a new model for house building in the future.’

 

richard james, chief executive of YMCA london south west, adds: ‘Y:cube presents a new way of creating genuinely affordable aspirational housing for single people in housing need. great design and an innovative construction system have helped us in developing a housing scheme that challenges traditional housebuilding methods.’

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
each of the 36 residences is being rented out at 65% of the area’s market rate

 

 

 

Y:cube uses a pre-constructed modular system that enables the units to stack on top or alongside each other, making it completely adaptable to the available size and space. each 26 square meter unit is constructed from high quality, eco-efficient materials (primarily renewable timber), ensuring well-insulated accommodation that requires little or no heating — even during winter months. each component is constructed with services already incorporated, allowing water, heating and electricity to be connected to existing facilities.

 

see here for designboom’s previous coverage of the ‘Y:cube’ housing unit.

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
the Y:cube units were all built off-site before being transported to london

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
Y:cube uses a pre-constructed modular system

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
units can be stacked on top of or alongside each other

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
inside one of the single-person units

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
each component is constructed with services, such as water and heating, already incorporated

richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y-CUBE housing london designboom
similar schemes are planned across london and other parts of england

 

drawings

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richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y:CUBE housing designboom
 
richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y:CUBE housing designboom
 
richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y:CUBE housing designboom
 
richard rogers stirk harbour and partners RSHP YMCA Y:CUBE housing designboom