"The balance of public, communal and private spaces is one of the great successes of the project and demonstrates the importance of good public realm design in creating sustainable communities and desirable places to live." RIBA Awards Citation

The Triangle, developed by is a pioneering housing development in Swindon that achieved high standards for low-energy and community-focused design. Its hero materials are timber-frame construction with Hempcrete external walls finished in lime render. Sustainable highlights include a focus on Code Four of the Code for Sustainable Homes, a design centered around a shared village green with communal kitchen gardens, and a re-imagining of high-density housing that promotes social interaction and low-carbon living.

Hero Materials

Timber-Frame: The houses use a prefabricated timber-frame for the main structural elements.

Hempcrete: This is the project's primary sustainable hero material. It is a mixture of hemp shiv (the woody core of the hemp plant) and a lime binder.

Lime Render: A traditional, breathable material used as the finish for the external Hempcrete walls. It is a lower-carbon alternative to cement-based renders and is essential for maintaining the wall's breathability, allowing moisture to pass through.

Sustainability Highlights

Carbon-Negative Material: Uses locally grown Hempcrete walls to significantly reduce embodied carbon, as the plant-based material sequesters CO2.

Low-Energy Performance: Achieves Code Four for Sustainable Homes through a "fabric-first" approach using super-insulation and passive stack ventilation (thermal chimneys) for natural cooling and efficiency.

Social Community Design: Fosters interaction and reduced footprint via a shared village green, communal kitchen gardens for food growing, and promotion of low-carbon transport such as bike storage and car club.