The Joinery

The Joinery We consider post-war housing blocks in London essential part of the urban landscape, due to its contrasting form/language compared to other ‘period’ architecture that remain in the city. The juxtaposition and the depth of layers that exist defines the authenticity of London, and our proposal seeks to re-familiarise and enhance the importance of such architectural typology within the environment we inhabit in by introducing a dynamic timber structure extension that emerge from an existing Council Block, Telfer House.

As part of UK’s strategic planning, densities are added to the suburbs of London, making the city’s boundary expand and pushing affordable living further outwards from the urban core. However, with inner London also sought as potential areas to improve, due to its relative low density compared to its recent past, there is still room for great opportunities to respond to the existing urban landscape which in some places appear fractured, fragmented and under-utilised. The post-war council estates are attractive from re-development point of view as the sites are not privately owned, but many of the blocks are endangered to become victims of the ‘scrap and build’ mentality that London has been implementing for providing new housing quickly. It is a common sight now to witness these architecture being demolished to be replaced by another set of cheap, quick-fix solutions where many of them are simple extrusions of space zoning exercise cladded in economical cladding material. Our proposal seeks to advocate a counter-strategy to this situation to enable us review London from another perspective, and to introduce a ‘progressive-minded’ alternative idea (which the principles could be implemented elsewhere) that values the evolving unique picture and history of this great city.

Applying the principles of Japanese cantilever joinery and maximising the flexibility that the Kerto elements offer, we developed a structural strategy that enables dynamic three-dimensional extension that grows out of the load-bearing elements of the existing linear volume of Telfer House. The building extends outwards beyond the site in places, utilising the benefit of being part of a macro-site that is of King Square Estate. The ‘streets in the sky’ concept advocated by the Smithsons are reinterpreted here with a timber walkway that forms a bridge between the new development and the centrally located King Square Gardens, allowing the visually disconnected site become integral part of the local community.

The architecture questions the basic principles of gentrified redevelopment that can be seen in London now. Challenging the developer-led-notion that a simple extrusion of the footprint of each site is the most time/cost/space efficient way of improving the urban density. The proposal intends to deal with the values shared by such schemes but also carefully considers the essence of quality of life and community building, elements that we feel are becoming diluted due to the perceived severe nature of the housing crisis. We believe that the use of pre-fabricated/engineered wooden structure is a key contributor that enables such concept be realised.

Outward vs. Inward Movement Current: London core expanding outwards, filling up suburban brownfields. Affordable living in inner core London is becoming rare

Eye-level view of ‘The Joinery’ extension to Telfer House, from North East side of site on Lever Street

Exploded Structural Diagram of Main Components Kerto Q LVL panels as load-bearing walls, directly in line with the ‘leg’ grid lines ensuring vertical loads are transferred down to ground. Length of panels vary to enable supporting varying slab lines. Off-site production allows for fast-track construction

New timber joinery ‘leg’ structure inspired by traditional Japanese stacking/cantilever carpentry, assembled using Kerto S LVL elements. Off-site production allows for fasttrack construction to minimise disruption to occupation of Telfer House below

Existing load-bearing walls and columns of Telfer House reinforced and utilised for connecting new timber joinery ‘leg’ structure.

Close-up view of joinery ‘leg’ structure from below

Opportunity: Relative low density compared to its recent past in inner core London could be utilised further

St. Clements Church Existing post war council blocks

King Square Garden The ‘Bridge’ The ‘Joinery’ extension

London Density and Site Location Viewed from Above

Visual focal point The sculptural form of the proposed extension and its presence generated by the contrasting architectural language to surrounding buildings will enable Telfer House become one of the focal points of King Square Estate.

The architecture will be visible from many points in and around the estate and will raise awareness to a wider context of the meaning of this scheme.

Post War Council Estates Particular attention was made to the fact that London Councils typically own 25-30% land in their respective Boroughs for Islington and Southwark, the record shows 40% or more.

Using a medium density post war housing estate site that is situated at the heart of central London as a testbed for a new urban solution, we propose a concept that responds to many of the key urban issues the city is facing as well as bringing life and renewed presence to existing architectural features within the chosen area.

King Square Estate King Square Estate is a typical post-war development that emerged in the 1950-60s, situated in south of Islington Borough. The estate is characterised by medium to high rise housing, with a central open space (Kings Square Gardens) acting as a focal point. The chosen site, Telfer House, sits on Lever Street which forms the southern boundary of the estate. The existing building is a two storey high linear volume that is sandwiched by six storey high buildings either side – the fractured townscape created by the inconsistent scale and breaking up of cohesive rhythm offers an opportunity for an infill intervention.

This approach seeks to evoke chain reaction and progressive movement to the rest of the city.

Re-familiarising ‘Estate’ feel The Joinery extension will not be contained within the boundary of Telfer House micro-site.

Lever Street

Instead, the building will reach out beyond and towards various points of King Square Estate.

This gesture will enhance the sense of ‘estate’ feel that the current Telfer House is lacking, generated by the low-rise appearance (lacking visual cohesion).

Birds-eye view of King Square Estate with Proposed Extension, The Joinery

The closer integration of Telfer House to the estate will enhance the importance and identity of the exsiting modernist structure and consolidate a sense of ‘community building’

Lever Street Elevation with Telfer House Extension: the enhanced street elevation will add interest and contextual meaning to the existing site. The dynamic form and presence of the architecture will become integral part of the evolving urban landscape that is composed of juxtaposing architectural layers

Kerto Ripa roof slabs

Kerto Q LVL panels Kerto S LVL columns

The Joinery - Level 04: 1xbedsit, 2x1bed, 2x2bed, 2x3bed

Kerto Ripa floor

The Joinery - Level 07: 3bed flats continued

Phase 01 – 4 weeks - Temporary relocation of existing residents - Existing Telfer House structure reinforcement works + service enabling works - Telfer House roofing reinforced and reinstated

Kerto Q LVL lift core

The Joinery - Level 03: 2xbedsits, 1x1bed, 2x2bed, 1x3bed

The Joinery - Level 02: 4xbedsits, 3x2beds

The Joinery - Level 01: Connection level

The Joinery - Level 06: 2bed and 3bed flats continued

Phase 02 – 4 weeks - Existing residents moved back - Joinery ‘leg’ structure and ‘bridge assembled and erected using modular material and building elements produced off-site

The Joinery - Level 05: 3xbedsit, 3x2bed, 3x3bed Floor Plans 1:500 Upon review of the King Square Estate, it has become apparent that there currently is an existing redevelopment proposal for this particular site. It consists of total demolition of the existing Telfer House, and providing a new build providing 38 flats ranging from 1 bed to 3 beds. As a counter-scheme to this, The Joinery proposal provides exactly the same density, but with different number of flats. A notable factor is that the number of provision for the existing Telfer House (10 bedsits and 6 3beds) are reprovided in the new extension, allowing existing residents to have a choice of moving into the new dwelling units. The sequencing of refurbishing the Telfer House units are also allowed in, so consideration to the community and disruption fears are rigorously looked at.

Phase 03 – 12 weeks - Main building works – new ‘extension’ assembled and erected using modular material and building elements produced off-site - Handover of 94 new units (main extension) and bridge

Phase 03 – 12 weeks - Relocation of existing residents to new units within new extension - Heavy refurbishment of existing Telfer House to update internal configuration and arrangement to meet current/future housing standards

Kerto Q LVL bridge Completion - TOTAL: 32 weeks - Handover of existing further 16 units (updated existing Telfer House) - COMPLETION OF TELFER HOUSE/THE JOINERY SCHEME Mass vs. Urban Sculpture Diagram Kerto S LVL assembly

Telfer House structure reinforced and reused Exploded Diagram of Key Elements above Telfer House

Typical redevelopment in London tends to follow an option of simply extruding a zoning diagram fitted within site boundary, which is a signiture of ‘scrap and build’ mentality and result in diluting sense of place

The proposal advocates a sculptural approach so the existing structure is extended upwards but three-dimensionally, as opposed to simple extrusion. This creates a more memorable form that will engage with the urban landscape in different ways.

Phasing/Sequencing Diagram The current proposal that exists which consist of demolition of Telfer House and rebuilding a new build is expected to take approx. 50 weeks construction with relocation (disruption) to the existing residents. The proposed scheme here will free up 18 weeks, which can be utilised in the design stage

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Detail Elevation of The Joinery, Showing the Structural Composition

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Junction of Kerto Wood floors and walls

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Load-bearing wall composition constructed off-site using Kerto LVL wood

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Typical timber connection inspired by traditional Japanese carpentry

Interior View of The Joinery Flat with View of Bridge/Leg Structure Outside