Duhamel Lane

We are pleased to have completed the Duhamel Lane Apartments for our Client JMEC. This was a particularly interesting project as it was a very tight infill site with a Heritage listing.

Part of the design process was to study and create an architecture that would bridge the gap on the facade, taking cues from the surrounding traditional elevations and materials. The roof became the dynamic structure crowning the development with its folding planes, informed and connected by each of the adjoining roof points from the neighbouring properties, the traditional dormer window also grafted into this form.

The roof houses the rooftop terrace which gives the top floor residential unit a stunning view across the St Helier roofscape architecture. This folded form also transformed the living space beneath, offering a gentle play on light and form from within.

Construction:
JMEC needed an offsite construction system to help them build a brand-new apartment block — a 4-storey steel frame building in the heart of St Helier with a striking modern design.

But this modern design came with its own distinct challenge: a sloping mansard roof with an asymmetrical shape.

We worked closely with a team of designers and engineers from Hadley to refine the design of the sloping roof to ensure it fit the pre-panelised HadleyFRAME system that JMEC had chosen.

With the modified design in place, JMEC was able to commit to the modern methods of construction they needed — while preserving the eye-catching silhouette that gives the apartment block its unique charm.

It was after visiting one of our sites in Derby (along with industry suppliers, Normans of Jersey), JMEC fell in love with the HadleyFRAME — a pre-panelised system of light-gauge steel framing designed for steel frame buildings where construction sites are tight.

With limited space and connected neighbouring buildings, this new apartment block was the perfect fit for our HadleyFRAME system. By delivering load-bearing steel wall panels to the site on a just-in-time schedule, we will be able to minimise the storage and laydown space they need, helping JMEC to make the most of the restricted space at the site.

We continue to work with JMEC and Hadley, helping them to overcome the boundary wall issues of the limited site — as well as adding improvements to the design to make the building more efficient.