Brooklands Avenue housing: a green carpet in Cambridge

Lined against one wall in the reception area of Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects' (FCBA) London office is a row of folding bicycles[2]. All are provided by the firm for the use of staff and partners. A sign of clear commitment to green and humanist causes, credentials which are surely needed by modern architects of large housing schemes. Luckily for the Brooklands Avenue project for 378 dwellings in Cambridge, the architects are supported in this commitment by their client, Countryside Properties. Also luckily, the site contains many magnificent trees. These are mostly around the perimeter, but there is one line forming a strong central spine running north-south. Better still, the west boundary is flanked by Hobson's Brook and a strip of common land.