With work now progressing on two Frank Gehry designed towers and on the i-360 observation mast, innovative design is helping to reshape Brighton and Hove. This forward-looking attitude extends to affordable housing too.

Downland Housing Association is working with architects Conran and Partners to design a landmark building for Bevendean, a residential area of the city. The result is a mixed tenure, sustainable development on the site of the former White Admiral pub, which closed seven years ago after flooding.

The 31-home scheme has been built using modern approaches to construction. Local materials have been used to reduce the environmental damage from transportation and to complement their surroundings.

As the roofs of the scheme will be visible from distant hills, they will be kept flat and planted, which has softened the appearance of the buildings and helped them to blend into their surroundings.

Part of the scheme faces a row of shops, and this side of the building has been clad in copper, to act as a marker for the scheme, which the association hopes will encourage people to visit it and to use the local businesses.