Southampton Road, Ringwood

This project reimagines the prominent Aroma Café site on Southampton Road in Ringwood through the creation of a contemporary mixed-use development that combines vibrant commercial space with high-quality residential accommodation. Retaining Aroma Café at ground floor level preserves the active street presence and established character of the site, while the introduction of six new apartments above brings modern living into the heart of the town centre. The residential accommodation comprises four two-bedroom apartments alongside two studio flats positioned at second-floor level, each benefiting from spacious private balconies with elevated views and generous outdoor amenity space.

The architectural approach introduces a bold and distinctive façade that gives the development a strong contemporary identity within the streetscape. Crisp white render is contrasted with elegant vertical slit windows, creating a refined and visually striking composition that enhances privacy while allowing carefully controlled natural light into the interiors. Light-toned cladding wraps the upper floors, adding warmth and texture to the building while softening its modern form.

A defining feature of the scheme is the stepped arrangement of the first and second floors, with each level recessed slightly from the one below to create generous balcony terraces and a layered architectural profile. This approach not only provides valuable external space for residents but also reduces the visual massing of the building, creating a lighter and more dynamic appearance from the street. Overall, the proposal delivers a sophisticated mixed-use development that successfully balances contemporary design, residential quality, and commercial vitality within a key Ringwood location.