London Borough of Tower Hamlets invited us to identify infill opportunities within Solander Gardens - a postwar housing estate in Shadwell - with a goal of increasing the number of homes for families.
Having assessed sites across the estate, we were asked to prepare a planning application for affordable residential with wider landscape improvements.
Following consultation with local residents, we proposed to relocate an existing ballcourt by 15m to unlock a key pedestrian intersection and release a parcel of land for development.
Five 4-bedroom homes for up to 7 people were created within a new four storey apartment block and two storey townhouse.
Designed as modular, timber-framed structures and façades for ease of construction, the buildings were expressed in an earthy red concrete to blend into the largely brick context.
Picking up cues from the surrounding post-war buildings, we introduced pops of colour with yellow metal framed windows, and played with textures including smooth concrete, striated render and glossy tiles.
Our proposal involved re-landscaping an underused 0.35-hectare linear section of the site to improve pedestrian connectivity, accessibility and safety by designing out dead ends and narrow alleyways.
Formalising this new street created a clear east-west route and improved the urban environment for existing play spaces and allotments.
Our designs for Solander Gardens provided an uplift of five affordable family homes - including one fully accessible - with a high quality of accommodation.
With a handful of strategic urban moves, we opened up pedestrian routes and increased natural surveillance to key areas of the estate that had previously been under-used or unwelcoming.
