The city of Cambridge maintains its reputation for academic achievement and architectural beauty while its industrial roots meet contemporary residential needs. Alison Brooks Architects (ABA) based in London has developed Rubicon as its newest residential quarter which stands on the northwestern boundary of the city within the extensive Eddington masterplan. The development presents more than housing through its “super-robust” sustainable design which uses 19th-century mill and warehouse building elements to create a contemporary urban living vision.
The Rubicon scheme finished in 2025 includes 186 homes distributed across five separate buildings. The design at ABA transforms Cambridge’s historic industrial architectural language through abstracted interpretations of its essential elements which include solid construction and repetitive structural elements and the relationship between light and shadow. The development shows a discreet reference to Cambridge‘s university quadrangles through its courtyard-based building arrangement.
The material selection reflects the “super-robust” design approach. The main building facade consists of glazed bricks which display various colors from green to yellow and blue to silver grey. The selected materials directly address the buff brick-clad buildings of Mecanoo and Mole Architects in Eddington masterplan while maintaining the timelessness of the warehouse structures on the site. The different colors on the five buildings create individual identities yet they share a unified material aesthetic.
The architectural detailing further reinforces this robust character. Deeply recessed, rationally distributed windows create a sense of order and recall the fenestration of mill buildings. A gently undulating, 75-metre-long roof profile unites the five blocks, its form reflecting the gentle curves of the Cambridgeshire landscape and creating dramatic, voluminous top-floor apartments with sloping ceilings. Curved corners soften the building forms, offering a contemporary counterpoint to the industrial inspiration.
The internal approach of the Rubicon focuses on creating long-lasting structures that can adapt to changing needs. The development provides a variety of housing types, ranging from studio apartments to larger three-bedroom duplexes. The development includes 35% of its homes designated for university and key-worker housing which creates a diverse residential community. The ground floor semi-public co-working foyer in each block functions as a “third space” which promotes social interaction between residents including academics and professionals and students and retirees.
The external spaces are equally integral to the design. The buildings are connected through landscaped courtyards which function as both social areas and communal balconies that overlook the wetlands. These courtyards also incorporate covered cycle store pavilions, emphasizing the development’s commitment to cycle-centered mobility – a key aspect of Cambridge life. Deeply recessed south-facing balconies offer residents private outdoor space and views of the surrounding landscape while providing solar shading.
Rubicon establishes a new standard for sustainable living through its pursuit of net-zero carbon operational energy. The “fabric-first” construction method uses thick insulation combined with triple-glazed windows to reduce energy requirements. The development features a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) District Heating System together with Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation (MHVR) systems and site-wide rainwater harvesting and underground waste management systems. The building generates 82% of its operational energy through extensive solar panel installations on the rooftops.
According to Alison Brooks, founder of Alison Brooks Architects, Rubicon represents more than residential development because it presents “a vision for the future of high-density, low-rise living, by interweaving cycling, home-working, community spaces, and landscapes.” ABA’s Rubicon develops a resilient urban quarter through its combination of industrial heritage elements with modern sustainability features which connect Eddington’s urban fabric to its natural surroundings.
References –
- Al Koshta, Hadir. “Rubicon Sustainable Living / Alison Brooks Architects.” ArchDaily, 11 Feb. 2025, www.archdaily.com/1026562/rubicon-sustainable-living-alison-brooks-architects. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
- Astbury, Jon. “MSN.” Msn.com, 2025, www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/home-and-garden/historic-mills-inform-super-robust-housing-in-cambridge-by-alison-brooks-architects/ar-AA1DEOc4?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
- AT Editor. “Rubicon – Architecture Today.” Architecture Today – the Independent Architecture Magazine, 24 Feb. 2025, architecturetoday.co.uk/rubicon/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
- “Rubicon – Alison Brooks Architects.” Alison Brooks Architects, 16 May 2024, alisonbrooksarchitects.com/project/rubicon-cambridge/.
