Project in the spotlight: Valley View Gardens
![](https://www.nelissen.be/library/VVG1-XFTX.jpg)
Discover "Valley View Gardens" in Brighton (United Kingdom). Bricks play one of the main roles in this residential complex of four buildings. “Characterised by light-coloured patterned brickwork and striking slate roofs, Valley View Gardens' palette is intended to oppose the existing context – bring about something new, a balance between polarities.”
![](https://www.nelissen.be/library/VVG2-MI11.jpg)
The homes were designed for a local entrepreneur who asked for a series of homes on a backland plot of land. The derelict land, sited behind a semi-detached row of suburban houses posed challenges with restrictions on access, privacy and overlooking. Each of the four homes has been designed to 'slice' a traditional gable in four, sliding the larger monopitch form forward to open an opportunity to shield views, provide covered access and control natural light. This light comes in a variety of forms throughout the dwellings: the sky is framed by the hole created through the mass, hit-and-miss brick screens and rooflight down to the staircases.
![](https://www.nelissen.be/library/VVG3-FXRV.jpg)
The stair is designed to align with the brick façade so that vertical bands of light are created across the inner brick wall. The open treads lead to a bridge flooding light below, aligning bedrooms and views together across levels. A uniform material palette of light-coloured brickwork (alma from Nelissen Bricks) and slate roofs is used across the four homes to contrast with the existing context.
![](https://www.nelissen.be/library/VVG4-1VS0.jpg)
Architect’s view (Grant Shepherd, Director Alter Architects)
“Shaping natural lighting comes in many forms throughout the houses; on approach one looks up at the sky framed by the hole cut through the balancing mass – a glass screen flanks the hit-and-miss brick screen, light trickles down to the entrance. Entering the building the staircase is flooded with white light – views to the rear garden are framed by panel glazing.”
![](https://www.nelissen.be/library/VVG5-WP7K.jpg)
“The staircase design is aligned with the brick façade – the hit-and-miss nature of the whitewashed timber stair, vertical shapes cast bands of light and shadow dance across the inner brick wall. The open tread staircase leads to a bridge flooding light below and aligning bedrooms and views across the levels. The top bedroom is mottled with the patterned light reflected on the glass screen from the hit-and-miss brickwork; views are minimised into small brick format images – the whole picture is distilled.”
![](https://www.nelissen.be/library/VVG6-8H9Q.jpg)
Photos: Ivan Jones
Source: www.architectsjournal.co.uk