Hemisphere

Fri, May 26th 2006, 11:00

Birmingham City Council has given the go-ahead for the creation of Hemisphere, a landmark apartment scheme overlooking the world famous Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

Redrow’s development of 344 one and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses within the flagship Edgbaston Mill development, adjacent to Warwickshire County Cricket Club, has been granted planning permission and will go on sale next week, May 31st.

Adrian Farr, managing director for Redrow Homes (West Midlands) Ltd, says: “We’re absolutely delighted with the city council’s decision. Ground works and construction of the apartments can now start in July as planned and we expect the first occupations to be in the autumn of 2007.

“We’re tremendously excited about Hemisphere’s launch and, it appears, so are the region’s home buyers - more than 1,200 people have registered interest in a Hemisphere apartment. With the launch planned for May 31st from Warwickshire County Cricket Club there is still time to register for an exclusive invitation to be one of the first to reserve an apartment and join the celebrations.”

Prices will start from circa £160,000.

Now that Hemisphere has been granted planning it means Redrow Homes (West Midlands) Ltd is now able to reveal the overall look of its milestone venture.

Brian Scally, director for Hemisphere’s architects, Capita Ruddle Wilkinson, says: “The overall design concept takes much influence from the development name ‘Hemisphere’ as in a ‘meeting of two halves’. Supplemented by the benefit of both parkland and city living from this unique location, the elevations have been designed as a series of views rather than external facades.”

The site can be split into two distinct zones, one being a soft ‘leafy’ zone which faces the beautiful Cannon Hill Park to the south and west with the other zone being an ‘urban’ zone facing Pershore Road (A441) and Edgbaston Road.

In recognition of these zones and views the material palette on Hemisphere is simple and clean being restricted to just the four materials of render, brick, terracotta rain-screen and timber panels.

Render has been chosen as the base material for the external surface, wrapping around the whole of the building, to which the other materials are added in a layering methodology. This simple façade creates a perfect backdrop which links the whole perimeter of the building and allows for elegant and piercing elements of ‘visual incident’ in the form of balconies, large window openings, coloured glass panels and external feature lighting.

Brick has been used to the southern façade fronting Queens Ride to provide a domestic scale, textured and earthy material that will sit comfortably within the mature trees and ‘green’ environment of the parkland.

The terracotta rain-screen has been used on each end of the boulevard elevation. This will provide a presence and emphasise the boulevard and public spaces, acting as gateposts to the public route between Cannon Hill Park and a new public square.

Timber is used as a soft ‘personal’ material located in areas of recessed balconies and terraces.

Hemisphere is designed around a secure courtyard, which offers a fifth view. The courtyard façade has been designed with simple render punctuated by windows, balconies, and glass fins strategically placed. The façade is further broken up with the introductions of larch timber louvers fronting the main staircase.

The courtyard itself provides a series of raised island gardens with an ellipse shape to represent the city and an organic shape for the countryside. Each garden reflects, through its planting, the particular attribute of the island. The plant types and colours have been selected to support the idea of either an urban landscape of the city or a cottage garden in the countryside.

Lighting forms a key part of the Hemisphere experience with the design of an exciting light scheme. A mixture of effect lighting, up-lighters and way-finders combine to enhance Hemisphere, changing the character of the design during night time hours. Redrow’s commitment to lighting is, in part, inspired by Birmingham’s pledge to illuminate important buildings within the city and to become the lighting capital of Britain.

As the architecture of Hemisphere suggests the location gives it a dual lifestyle and an edge over the Birmingham competition. The beautiful Cannon Hill Park is on the doorstep with its wildflower meadow, lakes and woodlands plus tennis courts, bowling and putting greens, cycle routes alongside the River Rea and footpaths for walking and running.

Rural relaxation is only one half of Hemisphere. Less than a mile away Birmingham city centre offers the contrasting ‘urban’ experience with a wonderful mix of culture, art, entertainment and shopping.

Hemisphere will be the flagship residential scheme within Calthorpe Estates’ £100 million nine-acre mixed-use scheme Edgbaston Mill. The prestigious development will include commercial accommodation, restaurants, a retail food store and hotel and leisure space, which will become the best place to both live and work on completion in 2009.

To receive an exclusive invite to the launch on May 31 and to get a preview of the stunning show apartment call 0845 676 0515, e-mail westmidlands.sales@redrow.co.uk or log on to www.hemisphere.redrow.co.uk