Woodberry Down Phase 2 Shortlisted
- Category: Awards
- Date Published: 8th July 2024
It is very exciting for Rolfe Judd to learn that Woodberry Down Phase 2 has just been shortlisted for two different awards.
The London Construction Awards has selected this development amongst the finalists schemes for the category of Best Residential Project of the Year, and the British Home Awards has shortlisted it for Regeneration Scheme of the Year.
Phase 2 of Woodberry Down continues a hugely significant long-term regeneration project that is transforming a prominent area of North London. These nominations follow multiple previous awards for the Woodberry Down regeneration.
Phase 2 delivers 704 new homes within 3 main blocks. The buildings increase in height as they step-back from the reservoir, and are U shaped, improving daylight and views across the water. Spring Park is at its centre and was designed to incorporate the needs of existing and future residents, with subtly delineated play areas and open green space, often used to host numerous open events. It also serves to create strong connections both within the development and to the periphery of the scheme, providing also a community centre, which is a local hub for all residents and visitors to Woodberry Down in Hackney.
Phase 2 provides a community of mixed tenure properties, with no visible difference between affordable and private housing, that preserves and develops the existing character of the area. The connectivity, provision of shops, services, and community facilities as well as landscaping (focused on walking and cycling) is vital to its success. The phased stages of the full masterplan ensured that residents had new homes to move into before their existing homes are demolished, with a single move (or decant) a fundamental principle of the regeneration.
Woodberry Down is uniquely characterised by a biodiverse area of natural wetland in the form of the New River and the East and West Reservoirs. Integrating the natural environment with the built form is a key design principle, with Woodberry Wetlands is a natural focal point, opening up remarkable social and community opportunities to this inner-city location.
Traditional materials are utilised in a contemporary manner such as bricks, stone, metal and wood. This responds to the heritage of the site and existing buildings as well as feedback from the local community. Orientation, massing, materials and glazing maximised natural ventilation and lighting in every block.
