UK: Developer GNM Group is aiming for its The Narrowhouse coliving scheme near Birmingham city centre to be the world’s tallest energy-positive building.
The Narrowhouse will feature 249 energy-efficient coliving homes, and will generate more energy than it consumes. Amenities will include shared lounges, coworking areas, a fitness centre, games room, dining areas and rooftop terraces offering views of the city and canal.
The building will be clad in 4,070 square metres of solar panels, and will feed the surplus clean energy generated into a microgrid, benefiting the wider community.
The dynamic colour-shifting solar panels will change throughout the day, creating “a living, breathing façade”.
Located in Gas Street Basin, GNM Group’s scheme will transform an underutilised site into a new and sustainable residential hub, while restoring the 1875 toll house as new living accommodation and supporting the wider regeneration of the Westside Zone. A new pedestrian walkway enhancing access to the canal and nearby amenities will also be built, creating better connectivity and access to the canal ways for residents and the public.
GNM Group is currently lobbying for support for the project for Birmingham City Council to consider when the scheme is presented to the planning committee.
Gerald Manton, managing director of GNM Developments, said: “The Narrowhouse is more than a building, it’s a statement about the future of sustainable urban living. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position Birmingham as a global leader in sustainable development. With the UK working towards net-zero targets and demand for affordable housing increasing, Birmingham is perfectly positioned to lead this transformation. We’re calling on the public to show their support and make this bold vision a reality.”
Architects Broadway Malyan has designed the scheme.
The building at 52 Gas Street has had several previous uses including as a gun factory, a stables for the canal and home to nightclub Bobby Browns before it closed down in 2003.
