Post: Pineapple Award Winner

We are delighted to see that Hazelmead, in Bridport has been awarded with The Pineapple Award for Healthy Homes. The project is certified to AECB CarbonLite New Build Standard. The project is from Bridport Cohousing Community Land Trust with Barefoot Architects. Barefoot Architects are AECB members and the project was certified by AECB Approved Certifier, Piers Sadler, at Delta Q.

The Pineapples Awards were launched in 2019 by The Developer, recognising excellence in every stage of the development, design and delivery of placemaking.

It was great to read the citation about the project: Hazelmead impressed the judges as a trailblazing example of large-scale cohousing, demonstrating determination and community-led ambition at an unprecedented scale. The scheme successfully balances privacy and sociability, with safe communal streets, shared green spaces, and common facilities that foster a strong sense of neighbourhood. The project’s design actively supports a different era of living, where play, trust, and connection flourish—evidenced by children safely roaming and bikes left unlocked. The project’s commitment to affordability in perpetuity, achieved through crowdfunding and a community land trust model, ensures that Hazelmead remains a sustainable, long-term asset for residents. Its microgrid energy system and passive design features offer not just sustainability but also thermal comfort and resilience, setting a strong precedent for future developments. The judges felt that Hazelmead’s approach to collaborative living, environmental sustainability, and long-term affordability is a model to learn from going forward.

Well done to all involved! For more information about the project, we recommend reading the blog post from Sam Goss: Bridport Cohousing: The Gold Standard for Healthy Homes? — barefoot architects