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The ‘Marsh’ narrative responds to the historic structuring of the ‘manorways’ within the North Kent Marshes, and also considers the precedent of Dutch polders as an approach for structuring the marshland into ‘productive gardens’.

The linear patterns of the manorways are used to inform a distinctive approach to organising residential clusters in Ebbsfleet, structuring new residential typologies and associated gardens and shared courtyards.

Each defined cluster of homes could accommodate between 50-75 dwellings - with a hierarchy of streets, lanes and mews together with a neighbourhood focal space within the cluster. The existing historic ‘manorways’ routes should be preserved across the marshland and reinforced as access and pedestrian routes.

The Marsh urban form

‘The Marsh’ urban form has been derived from the structure patterns of the manorways which crossed the North Kent Marshes, and the defensive layouts of farm buildings within the marshland, such as those near Cliffe.

Water is to be embraced as a defining edge to any new settlement area.

High density low rise clusters maintain as much marshland natural landscape as possible. Each ‘cluster’ is arranged around a shared surface courtyard and linked through a minimal access road which should be based on the routes of the historic manorways which crossed the peninsula area.

The Marsh architectural language

‘The Marsh’ architectural language makes strong cross reference to that of ‘The Pent’ areas and other Design Narratives for the Ebbsfleet Garden City.

The horizontal expression of each dwelling and the dark plinth should be developed as a dominant architectural expression. Low rise elements are to be included with flat green roofs to maintain green coverage. Residential typologies have to incorporate frontages that address the landscape, side gardens and shared courtyards. Long views over the marsh should be captured in corner bay windows. The residential typologies incorporate car parking, and shared courtyards.

References from the analysis

The Marsh materials & detailing

‘The Marsh / Polder’ materials & detailing  refers to ‘The Pent’ and other Design Narratives for the Ebbsfleet Garden City, in terms of the horizontality and the dark plinth. Long views over the marsh to be captured in corner bay windows and projecting windows within the plinth.