Adelaide Wharf by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

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Project Details:

Project type: Private and affordable apartments; mixed use.
Location type: Urban brownfield site
Number of dwellings: 147
Location: Hackney, London
Award: Building for life award – 2008 winner
Text and description: Building for Life
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Design Process:
“First Base was founded by Lend Lease and Stanhope in 2002, as a niche provider of high quality inner city mixed tenure homes. In 2003 Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) were commissioned by First Base to carry out a study for providing high density key worker housing of 150-250, units using efficient, rationalised design and modern methods of construction. The study formed part of a bid in September 2004 by First Base for English Partnerships London Wide Initiative, a government-backed scheme to provide shared equity key worker housing on 16 brownfield sites.

In November 2004, the Adelaide Wharf site was allocated to First Base, who appointed AHMM to provide detailed designs. The site came with an existing consent for 131 flats with 98 underground parking spaces. AHMM redesigned from scratch based on the previous building studies, to create the higher-density built form of 147 flats around a shared courtyard, with 33 parking spaces above and below ground and 180 secure bicycle spaces. The new planning application was submitted in September 2005 and full approval granted December 2005. Work began on site in April 2006, completed in October 2007 and first residents moved in the following month.”
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Project Description:
“Despite the rational design of the construction and interior layouts, the exterior elevations are brimming with originality and character. The architecture is a mix of engineering brick at ground level a with bright, glossy, enamel clad panels in red and yellow hues, wrapping double height pedestrian entrances . On upper stories, a craned-in unitised cladding system forms horizontal grey zinc bands, which are broken up by vertical panels of rough sawn Siberian larch. These are undulated to create a visual ‘corduroy’ effect, to enliven the elevations and to disguise any differential timber weathering over time. Generous balconies are clad in warmly coloured perforated planes and are staggered to produce double height gaps above and to reduce overshadowing of living rooms below. Balconies are suspended from beams at roof level, which are cantilevered over the roof to mimic lifting beams on original warehouses .
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Inside, the enjoyment continues. The concierge, lit by double height glazing from the courtyard, is surrounded by a calm seating area, with a modern recessed bay window keeping an eye on Queensbridge road . A glance up the stairwell reveals a visual puzzle of staggered concrete flights and glazed balustrades. The lobby and stairwell are lined with 16m timber mural designed by local artist Richard Woods, reflecting the sites history as a timber warehouse .

Access to flats is double banked either side of three long corridors served by just two cores. A claustrophobic feeling that often results from long internal corridors is reduced by a greater than average 1750mm width. Natural light is also brought in through large glazed panels at each corridor end, which in the case of the canal side, is a fully glazed slot with double and triple-height voids to maximize light and views out.
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Aside from corner units, most lead off the corridors with single aspect views, but smart layouts of a deep plan locate all serviced spaces of kitchens and bathroom along inside walls, with living and bedroom spaces making full use of the window walls. Open plan kitchen and living space are almost all connected to generous, balconies, which, even for the one bed flats, are large enough for a couple of chairs and a table.

High-density living has been achieved on a relatively small brownfield site, and residents’ views out along the canal and over the city skyline have been maximised. The perimeter block is a tried and tested way of defining streets with a coherent, well structured layout while providing a secure, functional living environment. The lively colours and varied form of this distinctive new block, make it a positive addition to the local built form and a navigation landmark in its own right.” Building for Life