The owner of this residential scheme in Bermondsey, close to Tower Bridge, was not satisfied with the original plans and came to Make to see if we could offer a better alternative. After in-depth analysis and extensive design work, we proposed a taller simpler, more striking building that establishes a bold presence in this rapidly burgeoning neighbourhood.
Our design comprises 154 apartments across nine levels, plus a significant provision of ground-floor office space – a balanced living and working community that continues the rapid spread of regeneration in Southwark. The upper floors benefit from fantastic views across London and access to a series of generous roof terraces. A south-facing private communal garden sits at the heart of the scheme, providing an attractive, secluded space that can be used by both residents and workers.
We chose a palette of high-quality traditional and contemporary materials that reference the 19th-century warehouse architecture, specifically its narrow streets, London brick, archways and tall buildings. The resulting structure harmonises with the area’s characterful streetscape and acts as a distinctive local reference point, its recognisable shape and multicoloured ‘fins’ bringing simpler wayfinding to the complicated street grid.
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We drew inspiration from the traditional warehouse buildings of South East London to recreate a traditional streetscape in a contemporary way.
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