Making space for Londoners
July 2019
Making space for Londoners. That’s what we do. We create spaces that are better for London, its people – and developers too. Thoughtfully designed, sociable, profitable spaces. Places to live, work, and thrive. We design homes that become the seedbeds of communities. Homes considered from the inside out, in which the needs of people and their neighbourhoods come first – not the tick-boxes on a planning form. This is how architecture should be. HWO architects July 2019
2
HWO architects
PROJECT LIST BAGEL FACTORY
4
OLD SMOKE HOUSE
12
COLONY COURT
22
ABOUT
30
HWO architects
3
Bagel Factory Client: Aitch Group The vision for Hackney Wick is for a real community where people live, work and play. This development balances residential apartments with workspaces for small creative businesses, all organised around a welcoming central cafĂŠ.
This mixed-use development, in partnership with Aitch Group and Mura Estates, offers 55 residential units and 2,326sqm of flexible employment space, aimed at creative industries. The site is Hackney Wick, one of the brownfield areas designated for development by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). A residential area from Victorian times to the 1950s, Hackney Wick became increasingly industrial from the 1960s onwards. Today, the local landscape is a mix of historic warehouses and light industrial buildings, increasingly punctuated by galleries, cafes, bars and clubs as the creatives of Shoreditch move further east in search of new spaces to live, work and play in. The post-Olympic vision is for a balanced neighbourhood of sustainable homes, workspaces and community facilities. In the regenerated Hackney Wick, residents will enjoy a strong infrastructure, good transport
4
HWO architects
HWO architects
5
links, safe and pleasant streets, and the green spaces of Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, both under 10 minutes’ walk away. A light-industrial bagel factory occupied the development site. This was replaced by a six-storey building that draws on Hackney Wick’s industrial heritage – its
6
HWO architects
‘Our best looking building ever’ Alex Rodda Aitch Group
simple elevations of pale brick and full-height windows a modern update on traditional warehouses. Workspace units are split over the ground and first floors, with windows and doors creating an active frontage along the perimeter of the site. This encourages people to look out of, and into, the building,
creating visual interest and interaction with the community. Perforated metal screens give business tenants additional flexibility and privacy. Above the commercial units are 55 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. These residential units have been designed with generous space and height, and meet
level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Because the workspace is geared towards small and medium-sized creative businesses – the new commercial lifeblood of the area – we have designed the building around a ‘creative quarter’. This café and its outdoor terrace are a bustling hub at the heart of the site, a shared space
HWO architects
7
8
HWO architects
where creatives and residents can mingle. Residents enjoy additional communal outdoor space on the second floor and roof terrace. Business users, meanwhile, have access to a commercial yard at the rear of the building, where they can hold meetings and events, or simply relax. The development is designed for urban users and pedestrians and is therefore car-free, but has ample cycle storage for residents and tenants.
HWO architects
9
10
HWO architects
Client
Aitch Group Contractor
Aitch Construction Procurement
Construction Management Local Authority
LLDC / Tower Hamlets Number of units
55 Completion
We wanted the building to look completely at home in its surroundings, so its design and materials have been carefully considered. Simple but robust elevations have subtle changes of depth, creating a dynamic and animated façade. Pale bricks reference the area’s architectural heritage, and give a strong structure and grid. Windows, balconies and terraces break up the facade and create a mix of textures. The perforated metal screens are crafted from Alunzinc, adding lightness, texture and gleam to the exterior. European oak brings warmth via doors and entrances, and powder-coated aluminium window frames harmonise with the soft tones of the building.
2019
HWO architects
11
OLD SMOKE HOUSE Client: Aitch Group
12
HWO architects
A high proportion of the highquality homes in this building are family units. A cafĂŠ and outdoor terrace creates a large, new public space. And green roofs are not just generate energy, but boost the local ecology.
Fish Island is located in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, and is one of the key zones earmarked for regeneration post-Olympics. At the moment, the area has an unremarkable assortment of low-grade industrial buildings, yards and vacant sites, and some housing. There is also a peppering of cafes, bars, clubs and galleries, as artists and other creatives migrate from Shoreditch
to more affordable areas. But the landscape is changing fast as the vision of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) takes shape. Our mixed-use development, which we’ve built with Aitch Group and Mura Estates, is a sustainable addition to a new community, and helps to make Fish Island a unique place to live and work.
HWO architects
13
‘Throughout the works at Old Smoke House, HWO proved to be dependable, experienced in housing design and above all knowledgeable on planning and development matters’ Simon Westray Aitch Group
14
HWO architects
HWO architects
15
The six-storey building delivers 45 highquality homes: a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, number of which are family-sized units. It offers 775sqm of employment space for small and medium businesses, and creates 350sqm of new public realm.
16
HWO architects
The design is the result of much consultation with, and input from, stakeholders and the public. It meets all the criteria set by the local authority and the LLDC – for new and affordable housing with a socially balanced mix, high standards of design, and environmental sustainability. It creates new job opportunities, and bring economic growth to the area through new business.
Old Smoke House integrates well into the environment and local community. It improves the streetscape, thanks to robust elevations and a simple palette of materials that reflect the area’s architectural heritage. Its wide walkways encourage pedestrian flow, and its café and terrace are a large public space that the whole community can enjoy.
The development’s height, massing and design have been carefully considered and refined to work well with its neighbour, Neptune Wharf. This recently approved scheme comprises 522 residential units, 3,000sqm of commercial space, and land for a new primary – which will now have direct access from Monier Road.
HWO architects
17
18
HWO architects
HWO architects
19
20
HWO architects
Client
Aitch Group Contractor
Aitch Construction Procurement
Construction Management Local Authority
LLDC / Tower Hamlets Number of units
45 Completion
Inside our development, 45 apartments are arranged around a central space on the first to fifth floors. Residents can enjoy balconies, terraces and 177sqm of communal space including a rooftop play area. At ground level, four commercial units offer flexible space, designed to appeal to creative businesses. The development is car-free, pedestrian and cyclist-friendly, with 77 cycle spaces for residents and business tenants. Green roofs with photovoltaic (PV) cells generate energy on site, and provide natural cooling in the summer and insulation in the winter. These mini wildlife zones boost the local ecology, adding yet another dimension to this mixed and vibrant community.
2019
HWO architects
21
COLONY COURT Client: NFS Investments Apartments designed for families in the heart of Stoke Newington. This rare new-build will offer local residents generous space, flexible layouts and a large communal garden, designed with children in mind.
This development of 15 apartments is one of very few new-build housing schemes to be approved in Stoke Newington. This part of Hackney is densely packed with rows of two- to three-bedroom Victorian terraces, so a site that would accommodate a five-storey building was an extremely rare find. This particular site was at the conjunction of a very deep plot and a 1950s block of flats, and planning consent had already been secured when the project came to HWO. Upon reviewing the plans, we decided they could be improved. So we redesigned the internal layouts to make the flats more generous in size, and stacked them intelligently floor by floor. We calculated the maximum return for the building based on our new designs, and created a pack for estate agents, asking them to evaluate the original build versus the new. With their favourable response in hand, we resubmitted planning using Section 73, received consent and moved onto funding.
22
HWO architects
HWO architects
23
Our client had been in discussion with a private equity firm, but the bank we recommended offered finance at better rates. Funding assured, the project had the green light – and a RIBA-certified lead designer on board in the form of Nicolas Khalili, HWO’s director. In November 2014, we carried out Stage D designs with a full team of
24
HWO architects
‘Our experience with HWO has been more of a partnership than a simple client relationship.’ Naseem Hakim NFS Investments
consultants, and commissioned ground and services surveys. We also commissioned a cost plan on the Stage D designs from QS Artelia. This identified groundwork and drainage issues, and a risk of inflation in 2015. The groundwork issues were quickly resolved with the team. And to keep costs on track and protect the quality of the build, we
switched from a traditional tender route to a faster two-stage tender route. Our shortlisted contractors will be tendering between now and July 2015, with a view to completing the build by the end of summer 2016. For Stage D, we decided to use a new, high-tech software programme called Revit. Revit draws all parts of the
building in 3D. It also coordinates changes across the model and its documentation, so that the building design is automatically updated, and is therefore always up to date. The programme maximises efficiency and eliminates the risk of human error. All the units in this development are generously sized, and exceed the guidelines in the Mayor of London’s Housing Design Guide.
HWO architects
25
26
HWO architects
HWO architects
27
28
HWO architects
Client
NFS Investments Contractor
ACS construction Procurement
Traditional Local Authority
Hackney Number of units
15 Completion
2019
This is something we were adamant about, and are particularly proud of. In our opinion, residential developers tend to reduce apartment layouts to the minimum, creating housing that is simply not suitable for families. The result is that families move out of London, which has an irreparable impact on local communities. Our development has been designed for flexible living inside and out – third bedrooms can be used as study rooms, playrooms or visitors’ bedrooms, and the communal garden measures over 600sqm. It offers a perfect solution to buyers who need more space but want to stay in Stoke Newington. The building is also highly sustainable, meeting level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. This measures sustainability according to nine criteria: energy and CO2 emissions, water, materials, surface water runoff, waste, pollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology.
HWO architects
29
OUR TEAM
30
HWO architects
HWO architects
31
AWARDS
SERVICES
Planning Award Excellence in Placemaking at High Density (Hackney Wick)
At HWO, we manage the full development cycle. This includes:
Build Magazine Architectural Award 2019 Best Mixed-Use Architecture Practice.
Site sourcing and capacity studies Robust planning applications RIBA chartered practice, led by ARB architects Fully compliant designs, audited to Quality Standard IS0 9001 Revit model and scheduling, following industry-standard procedures and established BIM protocols and best practice, according to BS1192:2007, PAS1192-2:2013, AEC UK BIM Standards, CPI Code. A BIM coordinator assigned to every project, supported by a BIM management team overseeing the strategy, delivery and evolution of our digital design capabilities Tender drawing and specification packages using NBS Create, directly linked to our BIM model Specification writing fully linked to Revit models, using NBS Create Experience in different procurement routes Experience using MMC’s and CLT frames Direct collaboration with engineers and specialist consultants Distribution of web drawings via a dedicated platform Design Leader (awarded RIBA PM Certificate) CSSW Basement Waterproofing Training
All photos by Craig Auckland (Fotohaus)
Build Magazine Architectural Award 2019 Best Residential Mixed-Use Project (East London) for Old Smoke House.
32
HWO architects
CLIENTS We are proud to work with some of the most prestigious clients in the property industry. Aitch Construction, Aitch Group, Baqus Plc, Blaircourt Investments, LB Brent, CABU, Capstone Group, Cass & Claredale Housing, Citywest, Homes, Colliers, Dreampoint Homes, LB Ealing, Espa international, Farnham Developments, Four Seasons, Hotels & Resorts, French Trade Bureau in London, Generator Group, Glenny, Guinness Partnership, Hut Group, Hyde Housing, Group, IPE Developments, John Jones, London Development Group, Lakes by yoo, Marriott, IC hotels, Modular Building Consultants, NFS Investments, Quintas Homes, Raven Property, Rail Europe (part of French Railways), Redbridge Council, Regal Homes, Rosemax Investments, Royds Withy King, Silvertown Properties, Software Integrators, Spa Tribe, Squared Group, Strettons, Swimming Rocks, Westminster Kingsway College, Wharfedale Homes, Westbrook Whitfield Ventures, Yara Capital, The Zamek Group.
EVENTS & FEATURES ‘What if planning actually worked?’ Seminar - London Olympia. ‘Homes’ Exhibition - London Olympia. ‘CIH Housing’ Exhibition – Manchester. ‘Addressing The Capital’s Housing Shortage’ Exhibition – 2-5 June, The White Building, Hackney Wick. ‘Foundations of the Future’ Interview – A Home Builders Federation programme by ITN Productions (launched at UK Construction Week). ‘A Capital Crisis of Space’ - A four-page feature in July’s Issue of Inside Housing. ‘It’s all gone PRS’ - One-hour presentation at ‘Homes’ the industry event in Olympia. ‘The Creative Hour - Ep1’ - A drink event featuring a presentation on PRS and Planning by Ben Kelway, Senior Director at Lichfields. ‘The Creative Hour - Ep2’ - A drink event featuring a presentation on the economics of the PRS model by Stephen Young, Director at Fizzy. ‘GRAPHITE Launch Party’ - A drink event to celebrate 14 years in practice and the launch of our in-house mag GRAPHITE. MIPIM 2018 & 2019 - HWO attended MIPIM, the international real estate fair in Cannes.
HWO architects
33
HWO architects 407 ScreenWorks 22 Highbury Grove London N5 2ER United Kingdom T: +44 (0)207 566 0006 E: info@hwo-architects.com W: hwo-architects.com