Illustration of an apartment complex with multiple buildings, swimming pools, playgrounds, and green spaces, surrounded by trees, walkways, and people.

Project
Hartree masterplan shortlisted for Pineapple award

Posted on 23 May 2025

Hartree is a transformative masterplan that sits on a 48‐hectare brownfield site at the heart of a new urban quarter in North East Cambridge, owned by Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water.

Hartree is designed "For People, City & Planet" and will provide approximately 5,600 carbon-neutral homes, significant commercial space,15 new parks and over 20 hectares of open space. The masterplan is arranged in three compact, walkable 5-minute neighbourhoods that each offer easily accessible services and a range of essential amenities including primary schools, nurseries, healthcare and sporting facilities, and community and faith buildings.

As the appointed residential lead, we have worked closely with Kjellander Sjöberg to shape the Hartree masterplan over the past two years, playing a pivotal role in developing a vision for housing that will provide high quality sustainable homes with excellent access to amenity.

Together we have refined the scale and massing of residential blocks, testing different densities and design solutions to create a collection of illustrative housing typologies that support the delivery of Hartree's aspirational performance targets. In parallel, our collaborations with the wider design team on landscape, microclimate and transport has been vital to create a public realm which interacts with the ground floor of residential buildings and will foster a strong sense of community amongst its vibrant streetscapes.

The housing vision is captured in the Design Code sets a new benchmark for housing approaches that cater for all generations, with plans for family apartments, co-housing, self-build plots, and later living homes. The masterplan will lay the foundation for a new district that not only respects Cambridge’s rich heritage but also embraces scientific and technological innovation.

Hartree was recently shortlisted for a Pineapple award which celebrate the very best in placemaking. We are delighted that the projects is being recognised for its positive social, environmental and economic impact.

Sketch of a modern building with large windows, surrounded by landscaping including trees and bushes, with people walking in the area and one person arranging flowers outside.
Architectural illustration of a modern multi-story building entrance with people walking and cycling, trees, and greenery.