This existing building is located on Eltham High Street, opposite the recently developed Vue Cinema, within the Royal Borough of New Malden Southeast London. The building is neither listed, nor sitting within a Conservation area, but it does have some historic character within its stone detailing and windows.

​

Our client wanted to review development options for the site, and we quickly established that the potential form was too large for the existing structure. Whilst we aim to retain buildings as a priority, this should be balanced with the potential contribution this site could make to the local area.

​

The surroundings buildings justified a 4 / 5 storey building – which would render the existing structure useless and any form of retention superficial. We therefore decided to reclaim the existing brickwork and stonework to reduce the carbon footprint of the development. These would be used within the proposals.

​

Corner buildings are always exciting to design, as they allow Architects to create something truly 3-dimensional. Limiting ourselves to the approximated area of reclaimed bricks, we decided to use a simple grid design with large open windows.

​

The client decided to increase the size of the dwellings to compensate for no balconies, so the design needed depth. Using the internal configuration as a guide for windows, we attributed 2 windows per habitable room. Each habitable room receives a large, fixed window – and a smaller Juliette balcony which also provide purge ventilation.

​

First, Second and Third Floor plan are repeated, so we decided to mirror this window arrangement vertically to create a playful pattern. This also emphasises the form and the 3-dimensional object – moving away from a verticality and formality one associates with traditional facades and classical Architecture.

​

Planning consent is due in 2025 with works starting later that year for 6 residential apartments and circa 2,000ft of commercial floor space.