A 21st Century eco-almshouse: St. John’s Almshouses, Lichfield

The St. John’s Almshouse project comprises 18 new flats within two brand new, Passivhaus certified buildings set within an extensive landscaping scheme in the grounds of the existing Grade I listed Almshouses in Lichfield, UK. The Almshouses provide sheltered accommodation, or more specifically, ‘independent living for older people, with neighbourly support and care’. This social aspect is key to the design of the new apartments; arranged around a communal courtyard, the scheme seeks to reinforce the sense of community established over centuries at St. John’s.