Woodberry Down KSS1

Client: Berkeley Homes

The Old School Site (Kick Start Site One) was the first of the Woodberry Down sites to secure planning permission and construction is nearly complete. The permission will deliver 498 residential units, a new community centre and ground floor retail. The scheme provides a new linear park, enhanced public realm and greater permeability through the site.

The scheme is based on the Parker Morris +10% area standards and meets the Lifetime Homes requirements and will achieve Level 3 Code for Sustainable Homes. This is long term regeneration project involving the re-housing of existing tenants and building new private and affordable housing.

The brief for the affordable housing was developed through extensive consultation and workshops with Hackney Homes, the Estates Development Committee and the local community. The 7 buildings are arranged to create 3 open courtyards centered on the reservoir resulting in almost universal views south. The forms are both contemporary and develop from the intentions of the original masterplan and in response to the site.

The western blocks include a bespoke community facility to the ground floor and orientate south and west to the new park. The eastern blocks step back in a wedge fashion offering individual terrace views south. All the buildings step down to the south offering further terraces to the roofs and respecting the reservoir edge. The materials used such as brick, glass, g.r.c.and terracotta reflect the forms arrived at and contribute to the sense of scale and function. The result is to both achieve unity in the design and allow some individual emphasis.