Goldsmiths celebrates launch of intergenerational living scheme
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Goldsmiths and Phoenix Community Housing launch Melfield Gardens – an award-winning, intergenerational housing scheme in Lewisham that brings together students and residents aged 55+ in a new model for community living.
Lord Best (centre) marks the official opening of Melfield Gardens — the UK’s first intergenerational housing scheme of its kind — alongside residents and project partners from Phoenix Community Housing and Goldsmiths.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Annabel Kiernan delivered a speech welcoming the scheme as a “bold social idea” and a powerful example of what happens “when we do things differently.”
Melfield Gardens is the UK’s first intentionally designed intergenerational housing scheme developed by a housing association, and the first in Lewisham to be built to Passivhaus sustainability standards. It includes 30 affordable homes for residents aged 55 and over, and two four-bedroom flats for Goldsmiths students. In return for subsidised rent, student tenants commit to spending time with their neighbours — building relationships and supporting community activities.
Speaking at the event, Professor Kiernan said:
“This isn’t just a beautiful development — it’s a bold social idea. A place where people at different stages of life share space, time, laughter, and stories. A place where learning flows in all directions — not in lectures or seminars, but in cups of tea poured, questions asked, memories shared, and small acts of care that build something bigger.
Everyone making the move to Melfield Gardens is showing us what it means to stay curious, connected, and open to possibility. This is what it looks like when we do things differently — and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of it.”
Professor Annabel Kiernan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education & Student Experience
Professor Annabel Kiernan speaks at the launch of Melfield Gardens, praising the project as “a bold social idea” and a model for how community, care, and creativity can shape how we live.
Goldsmiths partnered with Phoenix to co-develop the model and support student engagement. Prospective student tenants are being selected through a process led by Goldsmiths, with priority given to bursary and Equity Award recipients.
Applicants are also assessed for their interest in community engagement and their ability to contribute to a shared, supportive environment. The first two student residents, Joquan Johnson (BA Music) and Alexander Morley (BA Applied Psychosocial and Psychotherapy Studies) have now moved in, with more planned to move in soon.
The Melfield Gardens development, designed to Passivhaus standards, combines energy-efficient design with a bold vision for community living in Lewisham
Unlocking housing opportunities
The Melfield Gardens model is designed not only to support social connection and wellbeing, but also to ease wider housing pressures. Many residents have downsized from larger homes they no longer need. In doing so, they help unlock a chain of housing opportunities — freeing up family-sized homes for those in overcrowded or temporary accommodation. The ripple effect of these “chain lets” is an important part of how developments like this contribute to local housing needs.
Environmental and social sustainability
The scheme has already won a Housing Design Award for its inclusive, sustainable architecture, designed by Levitt Bernstein. Its energy-efficient Passivhaus construction is another first for Lewisham. Passivhaus is a world-leading benchmark for sustainable building design, requiring extremely high levels of insulation, airtightness, and energy efficiency.
The result is lower energy bills, reduced carbon emissions, and homes that are comfortable year-round. The project’s combination of environmental and social sustainability sets a new standard for how we think about urban housing and community development.
Phoenix Community Housing Chief Executive Denise Fowler said:
“The intergenerational nature of the scheme will support our residents' wellbeing and help them to thrive. We’re excited to work with our residents to create a vibrant intergenerational community and make the most of this progressive scheme.”
Phoenix Community Housing is also a valued partner in the Goldsmiths Civic University Agreement, which brings together organisations across the borough to collaborate on shared priorities for Lewisham’s future — including housing, sustainability, and inclusive education.
Doing things differently
Melfield Gardens reflects Goldsmiths’ longstanding commitment to creative approaches to education, student experience, civic engagement, and social justice in the local community.
It is the latest example of place-based collaboration between Goldsmiths and organisations across Lewisham — a borough with a proud legacy of doing things differently.
Find out more about the various student accommodation options at Goldsmiths.