Kommuna Palace
Studio Woodroffe Papa Ltd, Lawrence Barth, Almitra Roosevelt and Anagha Othalur of AA Housing and Urbanism, Whitby Wood, XCO2.
“Deep floor-plan urban villa offers diversity, affordability, and compact generosity.”
In the UK, 30% of households are singly occupied and the trend is increasing. One in four family households are single-parent. The Kommuna Palace increases the spectrum of housing options available nation-wide for those interested in shared living and collective wellbeing, and it does so while improving affordability and sustainability with lower regulatory and planning barriers.
The building’s deep-plan atrium typology offers a range of household organizations for different patterns of sharing, with improved balance between private and collective life. The inner zone near the atria and common circulation create opportunities for neighbourliness and shared utilities. Meanwhile, dwelling layouts broaden individual access to workspace, recreational zones, and spaces for relaxation or social interaction. All households enjoy dual-aspect common areas on the interior and extension onto outdoor balconies.
As a piece of city, this contemporary urban villa offers a highly flexible and accommodating ground, increasing neighbourhood services and workspaces. Its all-sided orientation supports a wide range of community spaces, from gardens and plazas to working yards and playgrounds, and is ideally suited to transforming brownfield sites.
At six storeys, Kommuna Palace avoids recognised fire risks and achieves urban density without the current regulatory delays associated with towers. The approach lowers planning risk, while its optimal form factor makes homes more affordable, maintainable, and comfortable. Its simplified and regular structure offers not only a diversity of floorplans, but ease and speed of construction: a rapid path to 1.5M homes!
Studio Woodroffe Papa
Dominic Papa, Architect/Urban Designer
Architectural Association
Lawrence Barth, Urban Strategist
XC02
Louise Wille, Building Performance
Whitby Wood
Florence Medworth, Structural Engineer
Architectural Association
Almitra Roosevelt, MArch Research
