BRE Stable Block, Watford

Client: BRE

Role: Architecture & Environmental Services

The ‘Rethinking Housing Refurbishment’ team is transforming a disused Victorian stable block into three energy efficient demonstration homes fit for 21st century living.

Situated next to BRE’s Innovation Park at Watford, the finished building will house an Information and Training Centre where visitors will be able to learn about best practice refurbishment, including the latest processes, materials and technological advances. Traditional crafts and skills will also be taught in the centre’s workshop.

As part of the project, the team is working in partnership with the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders and the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment on nine other regeneration and refurbishment projects: back to backs, terraced houses, a £50k refurbishment design competition and Victorian villas. This means that the data and guidance that is generated can be applied to different housing scenarios and budgets.

Renovation has a vital role to play in reducing carbon emissions in line with stringent national targets and this project aims to provide the information, guidance and tools that are needed to improve housing refurbishment standards generally as part of regeneration projects.