Weston Williamson - Living
five years five projects..... five selected projects over a period of five years from 2005 - 2010. The aim to distill five key themes in our evolving approach to creating spaces in which to live. the five projects deliver high density living in constrained urban locations throughout central London. the five themes explore..... affordability - urban form - environment - materiality - density Steve Humphreys - February 2011
affordability
Delivering high quality affordable space in which to live is central to our work. This notion of affordability is holistic from considerations of capital budget and build cost, to costs in use - vital in the provision of affordable housing in the current market where projects are wholly grant funded. Managing the development process and timescale of delivery is also a key component in minimising costs. We are confident in designing creative and practical solutions that deliver affordable good places to live. Best value is achieved through high-quality design that can be adaptable to different lifestyle choices and changing circumstance.
Site G Spa Road London SE1 affordability simplicity in design stakeholder collaboration Site G Spa Rd, part of the wider Bermondsey Spa regeneration area, will deliver forty-eight new homes and ground floor commercial spaces for independent traders. Critical to the delivery of this competition winning proposal is simplicity in design integrating affordable materials to provide high quality efficient homes. The success of the simple form is connected to sellected materials that are durable, have limited maintenance, but express quality in design and thinking. Brick with an inherent reflective appearance is juxtaposed with simply detailed galvanized balconies to deliver value for money lifetime design.
‘creative and practical solutions that deliver affordable good places to live’
urban form
Through our work shape is predominantly derived as a response to context that in turn is architecturally configured to generate form. This form gathers in the many site influences and briefing requirements of the project and merges them into an aspirational but realistic deliverable design proposal. Understanding and evaluating existing urban typology, scale and locality is crucial in proposing a form that is both respectful but progressive in the context. We design with simple but strong forms strategically eroded to develop light and spatial relationships for the accommodation within. Form develops from an understanding of urban constraints merged with site opportunities that create places and spaces where people will want to live.
106 Weston Street Bermondsey SE1 mixed use conservation area complex site The success of our design for 106 Weston Street is derived from a robust form considered in the round which addresses both the streetscape and parkland setting. Located on an important corner site within the Bermondsey Street Conservation Area the resulting form embodies presence, shape and interest but maintains a sensitive response to the context. The design delivers open-plan commercial accommodation on upper and lower ground floors with nine private residential units on the upper stories.
“This building shows an architectural excellence that will be both a well mannered neighbourly design and is an exciting contemporary addition to this part of Southwark’s townscape.” Southwark Planning Dept. Case Officer report July 2010
environment
Brownfield urban sites present considerable challenges in delivery. The environment in which people, flora and fauna will ultimately be imposes considerable design responsibility on the parties assembled to deliver space in which to live. Carbon reduction, energy management and use of appropriate renewable technologies are central to our design solution and philosophy. The Code for Sustainable Homes and Breeam provides a detailed framework throughout the design process to ensure delivery of the required standards within the project budget. Any solution must be sustainable in its design, construction, and throughout its lifetime.
Talgarth Road London W14 conservation area setting managing site constraints maximising space Our design for this challenging long and shallow site on Talgarth Road in London W14 is an example of how significant site constraints are harnessed as opportunities to deliver high quality sustainable architecture for living. Air-quality, highway noise and overlooking have been successfully managed in the three storey proposal delivering fourteen homes. The response to the environment of the site with these specific constraints produced an iconic design with a human scale.
“the proposed development would provide a contemporary design that would suitably address the physical constraints of the site� Housing Design Awards 2009 judging panel Project Winner 2009
materiality
To balance aesthetics and function material consideration is fundamental in our design process at an early stage. Possible forms and shapes are explored through the parameters of a material to sculpturally express massing. Equally the inherent characteristics of particular materials are used as design tools to acheive solidity or transparency, lightness and reflectivity in response to the opportunities and constraints presented by different sites. Durability, weathering and maintenance are assessed against cost to achieve best value for our clients. We endeavor to use materials in new, cost efficient and sometimes unexpected ways offering a different opportunity where the level of design can raised.
118 - 120 Borough High Street SE1 mixed use conservation area terrace facade The design for an infill terrace site on Borough High Street in SE1 uses contemporary materials providing variety and vitality to contrast with the Victorian detail of the street elevations which define the site edge. Fixed and opening screens of anodized aluminium mesh create a layered form offering solar shading and privacy. The resulting design provides ground floor commercial space with seven private residential units above.
“the three dimensional ‘layered’ façade that will be created is considered to offer a high quality design which will enhance this part of Borough High Street.” Southwark Planning Dept. Case Officer report July 2009
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density
High-density design presents significant challenges in urban centres to successfully deliver commercial viabilty. Design solutions require skill and articulation to overcome density-related issues of over-looking, sun and daylight, and control of building height and massing. With understanding and careful management appropriate densities can be delivered with confidence in making good places in which to live. Experienced in creating design solutions to meet client commercial targets we deliver appropriate density levels that are environmentally responsible to context and location. Connected public open spaces must provide real opportunities for play, relaxation and biodiversity alongside homes that are light, airy and cater for diverse needs, privacy and comfort.
243 Junction Road NE19 urban regeneration mixed use consultation & negotiation The design for the site at 243 Junction Road in north London is a dense urban centre close to Tufnell Park underground station. To generate commercial viability the solution integrates design on many levels to deliver high quality homes on a site that has remained unused for many years. Constraints imposed by the proximity of neighboring properties are resolved to deliver twenty-five single storey and duplex apartments with the majority being dual aspect.
‘In terms of footprint and layout, the development maximizes the use of the site whilst respecting the surrounding context’ Islington Planning Dept. Case Officer report July 2008
Site G Spa Road London SE1
Client: Hyde Housing Association Rooff Ltd Services: RIBA Workstages A-F Value: £6m Date: 2011
106 Weston Street, London SE1
Client: Templars Property Company Services: RIBA Workstages A-D Value: £2m Date: 2010
Talgarth Road London, SW14
Client: Stadium Housing Group Services: RIBA Workstages A-D Value: £2m Date: 2008
118 - 120 Borough High Street London SE1
Client: The Winston Group Services: RIBA Workstages A-D Value: £1.5m Date: 2009
243 Junction Road London NE19
Client: Empyrean Developments Services: RIBA Workstages A-D Value: £3.5m Date: 2007
Weston Williamson - Living Shige Baba Steve Bell Philip Breese Matthew Crump Cristina Heselden Steve Humphreys Gwyn Jones Daniele Sini Warisara Sirimongkolkasem Philip Turner Travis Walsh
Weston Williamson Architects 43 Tanner Street London SE1 3PL www.westonwilliamson.com T +44 (0)20 7403 2665 F +44 (0)20 7403 2667 E team@westonwilliamson.com Steve Humphreys - Director T +44 (0)20 7403 2665 M +44 (0)7980 602 930 E steve.humphreys@westonwilliamson.com Philip Breese - Associate T +44 (0)20 7403 2665 M +44 (0)7712 837 512 E philip.breese@westonwilliamson.com