The Residence
- Client: Linden Homes
- Contacts: Charles Graham, Michał Affanasowicz
The Residence is a complex residential-led high density scheme of 86 new homes of mixed tenure, in the London Borough of Southwark for Linden Homes.
Centrally located on Blackfriars Road, the design of the scheme was sensitively developed to address scale in the area and an emerging ‘Boulevard’ concept for the main road. The Residence is a contemporary city block delivering on local aspirations as well as introducing bespoke layouts to meet a challenging context.
The block form for this peninsular site has been conceived as three distinct pieces; to the west of the site the main ‘City Block’, a ‘Central Link Block’ and a gable end or ‘Termination Block’ to the east.
The layout is organised with the main ‘City Block’ planned as a pinwheel with an off-centre core to the west. The central ‘Link Block’ features a series of stacked duplex scissor flats obviating the inclusion of single aspect, north-facing units within the development. To the east, the ‘Termination Block’ contains secondary escape and access around a small number of units. The result is a building which maximises views in all directions, has a civic face to Blackfriars Road and creates public realm opposite Surrey Gardens.
The formal 10-storey block matches the 30m datum as set by the Council for the ‘Boulevard’ and faces Blackfriars Road and Surrey Gardens. The remaining slimmer form of 6 storeys extends east and addresses Surrey Row and Pocock Street. The transition in scale is addressed with an elevated 6-storey ‘Metal Box’ to the southwest corner and a 4-storey ‘Glass Box’ to the northeast boundary. The resultant massing steps in height from east to west: 4 to 10 storeys.
The architecture and materiality evolved with different contextual conditions; between formal versus informal, public versus private and regular versus irregular. The use of clever brick detailing throughout, with infill metal panels, and occasional colour features all serve to unify the final form.
The development features simple forms and uses light and dark brick to signify 2 distinct scales, both linear and vertical. The main facade is ordered with a base, middle and top vertically aligning and the repetitive duplex units set up a grid of open light brick frames. In contrast, the ‘Metal Box’ evokes local theatre stage installations, having a more random aesthetic. The order at the top of the main brick forms breaks down resulting in corner windows and minor but deliberate changes.
The final building adds to the public realm at street level facing west to the main road and north to Surrey Gardens. It also provides private amenity on the roof at 6th floor where an extensive landscaped garden is provided.
