Acanthus LW Architects

Housing

IntroductionAcanthus LW Architects offer professional services in architecture, landscape and conservation and has over 35 years experience. The practice is listed by the Architects’ Journal as one of the top 100 UK architectural practices. We offer innovative architectural design supported by technical expertise. Our objective is to produce high quality architecture which makes a positive contribution to the built environment and which benefits sustainability. We aim to run an office that is a friendly and rewarding place to work.

We work in all stages of the design and delivery process including feasibility studies, planning applications, masterplanning, technical delivery and full project management.

The practice is based in Chiswick, west London with a staff of around 35. We are part of the Acanthus network of independent practices with offices throughout the UK.

Our well established team of residential architects has built a strong reputation in delivering successful, creative and responsive design solutions. We often work at the planning stage, securing planning consent in challenging sites. Our experience ranges from one off dwellings to large scale high density urban schemes.

We take a pragmatic approach to design and construction responding to complex site issues producing innovative design solutions. We also offer services in technical delivery, taking on established schemes and provide architectural support during construction in partnership with developer or contractor clients.

Contents

Introduction 02

Sustainability

Historic Building

3D Modelling Landscape 04

Design

Delivery 05

Projects

Royal Arsenal Woolwich OSD 06

Chiswick High Road 08

Colne View 10

Lewes House, Sussex 12

Riverview House 13

Centrium, Woking 14

Aveley Village Extension 16

Dolphin Yard, Hertford 17

The Island, Brentford Lock 18

Peter’s Square, Hammersmith 20

Southside, Wandsworth 21

Birchway, Hayes 22

Guildford Road, Woking 24

Kidbrooke Village Phase 2a 26

Brandon Road, Swaffham 27

Brighton Marina 28

Battle Square, Reading 30

Autobar House, Kew 31

Hamilton Road, Twickenham 32

Drayton Green, W13 33

Other Sectors 34

Contact 36

DesignWe aim to make a positive contribution to the built environment with strong place making through creative thinking and innovation. Our designs maximise value for clients by optimising solutions through a collaborative design process. We have a thorough understanding of the housing market and a full working knowledge of current statutory housing design and space standards.

The design process starts with a firm understanding of the client’s requirements and we work to optimise the arrangement of accommodation while responding to site constrains and contextual considerations. Successful planning permission is the key to successful projects and we have established a strong track record in producing detailed designs to achieve planning consent, often for difficult sites where previous applications have failed. Our team has developed great expertise in consultation, working to achieve consensus through design. We call on a range of presentation and communication methods to put the message across and engage with all stakeholders as necessary.

DeliveryAcanthus LW Architects have built a long standing reputation as a high quality delivery focused practice. We have completed the technical delivery for our own design projects, as well as for projects designed by others.

Our team has great experience and technical skills to draw on. We pride ourselves on a realistic pragmatic approach to problem solving, based on a sound knowledge of the construction process and materials. We have a wide range of technical details to draw on to ensure that details are guided by a proven track record. With a good understanding of costs and value, we always strive to maximize value through design and actively participate in value engineering.

Off-site manufacture is one recent specialism and we have completed several projects using volumetric construction, delivering great value to clients with high quality solutions.

3D ModellingWe have established expertise in 3D modelling and a strong track record with fully coordinated multidisciplinary 3D CAD models. This provides the added benefits of ensuring full design coordination, reducing risk and adding value to the design process. We are fully committed to the increasing use of 3D software and move towards increasing use of BIM software with the resultant improvements to collaboration and our service to clients.

SustainabilityWe operate and are committed to our ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. Responsible environmental initiatives are integrated into our proposals wherever relevant. We believe that sustainability should inform every aspect of a scheme from early in the design process and not be considered as late additions. We are proud to have completed one of the first code for sustainable homes level five (zero carbon) housing schemes in London.

Historic BuildingsArchitectural conservation and historic buildings consultancy has always been part of the practice’s skills. Our heritage team specialise in the sensitive re-use and adaption of historic buildings. We have the expertise to carry out specialist surveys and historic building consultation when listed or historic buildings are involved in projects.

LandscapeWith a collaborative and holistic approach to design the spaces between buildings can be just as important as the buildings themselves. Our in house landscape team is a valuable resource to ensure outside spaces are fully considered and landscape proposals are fully integrated with architectural proposals

Royal Arsenal Woolwich OSDThis phased development began with 592 units split over two towers and an ‘extracare’ development providing a home with communal facilities for elderly residents. The Over Site Development (OSD) sits above the new Crossrail infrastructure next to the Crossrail station and is part of a large scale master plan. The low level podium contains shops and car parking and service areas.

ALW’s scope was to inherit the Stage E planning design and carry out design reviews, discharging planning conditions and deliver the technical design and working drawings. As lead designer we are currently providing technical support through the construction phase.

Client: Berkeley HomesScope: Technical delivery

520-530 Chiswick High RoadA conversion and extension to an existing mixed use building. This project provides ground floor retail space and 12 new luxury apartments including a new two storey roof top extension. Sustainable measures incorporate solar thermal water and space heating to the apartments, heat pump temperature control to the commercial units and the introduction of planting to establish a vertical green screen to the side of the development. The high standards required by the client and the need to integrate with an existing building resulted in considerable detail design and creative solutions with regard to building components and materials.

Client: Jansons Property/ Redeham HomesScope: Full service: architectural design, planning application and technical delivery

Colne ViewThe development forms part of the Colne Harbour regeneration programme bordering the town’s old commercial quarter and river harbour. The scheme includes 265 apartments and also provides a new riverside walk, a landscaped park, commercial units and a riverside restaurant. The layout assumes a perimeter approach with a series of linked internal courtyard spaces where pedestrians have priority over vehicles. Prominent buildings introduce a sense of place and guide pedestrians through to the riverside amenity. Robust materials and detailing in the buildings and landscape reflect the industrial harbour-side heritage. Received Housing Design Award 2005 and was included in the Exhibition of Excellence.

Client: Barratt Eastern CountiesScope: Full service; architecture, landscape architecture, planning application and technical delivery

Riverview HouseLow cost space efficient modular construction was proposed with flexible accommodation including studios, one bed flats, two bed flats and two storey duplex units. The scheme replaces an existing derelict 1970s five storey office block bordering the A4 and the St Peter’s Square conservation area in Hammersmith close to King Street.

From the four storey street frontage to the west, the massing steps up to provide great views of the River Thames without compromising views or rights of light to the surrounding development. The south facing apartments feature a double skinned facade to deal with solar shading and noise.

Scope: Architectural design

Lewes House, Sussex A development of 60 apartments and houses set in the grounds of the Grade II* listed Lewes House with 40% affordable homes. The development includes providing a new public space, The Level, connecting the High Street with a new public library to the south. The new buildings contain generous duplex apartments with communal gardens and underground parking. Conservation Area and Listed Building consents were required for works in connection with existing structures including new openings in the listed Twitten walls that enclose the sites.

Client: Ash Mill LtdScope: Architectural design and planning application

Centrium, WokingCentrium is a mixed use development across three buildings, adjacent to Woking Station. Bounded by the railway and primary roads, the scheme provides 240 apartments of various sizes, including 60 affordable flats, plus a range of commercial units at street level. The design displays a cascade of balconies and roof terraces stepping down dramatically from sixteen storeys to four storeys. While every apartment has a balcony, communal amenity is provided by a raised landscaped deck over parking. Additionally, improved footpaths, cycle paths and landscaped public spaces are provided around the site perimeter. The project received a Best Surrey Development from the UK Properties Award, 2005.

Client: Barratt Southern CountiesScope: Full service; architectural design, planning application and technical delivery

Aveley Village ExtensionFollowing an approved Masterplan with Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Barratt Homes East London successfully commissioned a full planning application for a scheme for 340 dwellings. Contemporary approaches to living have been adopted in some house types, with first floor living spaces, decks and roof terraces. 35% of the dwellings will be affordable. The layout promotes ecology and sustainability throughout with a biodiversity park, surface water run-off ponds, community gardens and the promotion of renewable energy strategies to all dwellings. The scheme has been designed to meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3.

Client: Barratt Homes East LondonScope: Architectural design and planning application

Dolphin Yard, Hertford Located in the centre of Hertford’s Riverside Yards local development and conservation area, the site extends from the River Lea through to one of the main high streets. Originally occupied by malting buildings served by the waterway, it was agreed with the conservation and planning officers to redevelop the site entirely with new build, provided the scheme reflected the scale and urban grain of the original, but dilapidated, buildings. The scheme consists of 16 two and three-bedroom units, a mix of flats and maisonettes plus a new small public library.

Client: McMullen & Sons Ltd Scope: Architectural design and planning application

The Island, Brentford LockThis development of 192 flats and houses is on the island between the River Brent and the Grand Union Canal, and forms part of a large mixed use brownfield site. The buildings are arranged to maximize the number of rooms with views of the water. The site layout is an intricate arrangement of courtyards and landscaped areas, taking advantage of the views and the need of access to the waterside. The apartments are in blocks of four or five storeys and with the larger units forming penthouses at roof level. All apartments have views of the water and direct access to the underground car park.

The project received a Commendation from the Mail on Sunday National Home Builder Design Awards

Client: Charles ChurchScope: Technical delivery

405 King Street, W6Located on a compact and sensitive site, close to the conservation area of St. Peter’s Square in west London; Notting Hill Housing appointed Acanthus LW to design a sympathetic proposal comprising residential and retail accommodation. Extensive consultation with local community groups and the planning authority led to considerable design development, ensuring that scale and form of the proposal complimented its context. Substantial detail design at an early stage along with significant sustainable features contributed to the application. Comprising flexible retail space, basement parking, external amenity and 41 dwellings, including a series of significant family houses, a successful planning approval was secured.

Client: Notting Hill Housing TrustScope: Architectural design, consultation, planning

Southside, WandsworthActing as lead consultants to Wandsworth Parkside LLP, the project required the detailed design and coordination of production information (substructure, frame, envelope and fitting out) in support of the construction of 159 apartments. The site is located next to St George’s Park, adjoining the Arndale Centre, in Wandsworth town centre. The development is in two components, comprising of a twenty two storey tower with a partial basement, and a seven storey podium block. There is an internal car park for 90 cars over six levels and a ground level commercial space. The buildings incorporate a series of green roofs with, at the 23rd floor, one of the highest ‘brown’ roofs in London.

Client: Wandsworth Parkside LLPScope: Technical delivery

Image: Crest Nicholson

Image: Crest Nicholson

Birchway, HayesBirchway is one of the first non-experimental Zero Carbon housing schemes to be built in London. The development of 24 rented flats inhabits a tight backland site and has been laid out and modelled to minimize overlooking and overshadowing to surrounding private gardens. The flats are grouped into separate two storey buildings, each constructed using an off-site volumetric system and incorporating high levels of insulation and airtightness. Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 has been achieved using photovoltaic roof panels, biomass district heating, passive ventilation and heat recovery. Sedum green roofs are combined with rainwater/grey water management and bio-diverse planting.

The development has been awarded the Sustain Magazine Hansgrove Award for Development 2010 and OSC Magazine Award for Best Offsite Housing Project 2009.

Client: Paradigm Housing AssociationScope: Architectural design, planning and technical delivery

Guildford Road, WokingDetailed planning was achieved for a £50M mixed use scheme and new public plaza with 4700 sqm of commercial space, 1250 sqm of small retail and 445 residential units in the centre of Woking. A number of aspirations had to be met, including the provision of a commercially viable office building, a good range of residential units along with a quality public realm that would form the heart of the development, creating clearly defined pedestrian routes and a scheme that would form a new destination within Woking.

Priority was given to pedestrian priority movement across the site and links to the railway station and town centre. A café was proposed in the heart of the urban square to add to the vibrancy of the development and create a unique sense of place. The buildings range in height from four stories at the perimeter, tying in with the surrounding buildings, then up to14 stories and 21 storey tower acts as the gateway and marker to the development.

Client: Barratt Southern CountiesScope: Architectural design and planning application

Kidbrooke Village Phase 2aAcanthus LW Architects were responsible for the technical delivery of 115 dwellings, including 63 houses that form part of a large redevelopment site in the London Borough of Greenwich. The development provides both apartments and houses for shared ownership and social rent, including a number of apartments designed specifically to Greenwich wheelchair standards.

Client: Berkeley HomesScope: Technical delivery

Brandon Road, SwaffhamAcanthus LW Architects were appointed by Ben Bailey Homes to design and develop a layout for family housing on a site on the edge of Swaffham, Norfolk. An application for residential use had already been approved on the site however Acanthus LW developed in detail an alternative scheme for 340 new homes, predominantly family housing scheme to suit the new aspirations of the client. The layout is based on a series of mews arrangements linked with a primary and secondary loop road creating clarity of movement around the site. The scheme has been designed to comply with Lifetime Homes and Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The site promotes ecology and sustainability throughout with inclusions of a ecology park and woodland, surface water run-off ponds and use of renewable energy to the dwellings. A series of character areas has been defined across the site giving a sense of diversity and placement. Detailing and material choices relate to the vernacular architecture of the area.

Client: Ben Bailey Homes of GladedaleScope: Architectural design, masterplanning, landscape architecture, planning application

Brighton Marina Outer HarbourDevelopment

DRAFT Design Statement

April 2006 WilkinsonEyre•Architects

4

The Proposed Development from the East (Harbour Wall)

Brighton MarinaThe commission covers the first phase of the development of the outer harbour, Brighton Marina. This features 11 buildings of varying scale and character arranged around a generous public promenade, including a 40 storey tower on the Western promontory.

The first phase covers the buildings fronting the western quay where two new buildings will provide 195 units, three levels of car parking, commercial spaces and a new RNLI facility.

Our technical delivery scope as lead consultant covered design team leadership and coordination. Our role was to develop the consented scheme and rationalise layouts progressing the detail design with our contractor client to deliver a realistic, buildable and robust detail design.

Client: Midgard for Brunswick DevelopmentsScope: Technical delivery

41 – 42 Kew Bridge RoadSituated on a prime site alongside the River Thames overlooking Kew Gardens, this project addresses a sensitive context. Comprising 35 mixed tenure apartments in two buildings, the design seeks to unify the surrounding disparate collection of buildings whilst contributing a coherent, rewarding development. Notting Hill Home Ownership appointed Acanthus LW from project inception, through successful planning to tender production. Subsequently, we were retained by the contractor Bugler Developments to provide construction information for delivery of the project.

Traditional materials appropriate to their context are employed within a crisp, contemporary design approach. The design incorporates solar shading devices, a sophisticated basement offering flood defence and various environmental initiatives.

Client: Notting Hill Housing TrustScope: Architecture, planning, technical delivery

Battle Square, ReadingThe 10 hectare site accommodates a large supermarket, with apartments above, and a further 435 dwellings and local primary care trust health centre. The scheme was the subject of extensive consultations with the local community, culminating in a wide ranging and detailed planning brief. An extensive urban design and landscape appraisal was carried out. 40% of the residential scheme is affordable housing for Southern Housing Group, requiring dwellings ranging from one bedroom special needs units to twelve person family houses.

Client: Barratt Thames ValleyScope: Masterplanning, consultation, architectural design and planning application

Drayton Green, W13A sensitive infill site adjoining a park in west London. ALW were asked by Notting Hill Housing to obtain planning consent for a viable mixed tenure development after two previous attempts by others had failed. Our proposal was developed after a careful study of the local context, and consultation with local stakeholders.

The scheme received planning consent of this first attempt, in April 2012. A block of 17 flats forms the frontage to the site, with four houses at the rear. Four units are designated for affordable rent. The remainder are shared ownership. The contemporary gabled treatment of the building found favour with the planning authority and local opinion, as it was considered to respond to the local context, and reduced the apparent bulk of the buildings.

Client: Notting Hill HousingScope: Architectural design, consultation and planning application

A residential development of 27 dwellings on a former industrial site. The site contains a series of dilapidated Victorian warehouse buildings, originally part of an earlier electricity works, that have been designated as ‘Buildings of Townscape Merit’ and have therefore been retained.The scheme looks to convert the significant existing buildings and with the addition of new build units will provide a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and small mews houses for both market sale and affordable rented tenure.

The scheme has been designed to achieve Ecohomes ‘Very Good’ Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 for the new build and achieve Ecohomes ‘Very Good’ Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 for the conversion units.The design development involved extensive consultation with both the planning authorities and local community groups.

Client: Hamilton Lofts LtdScope: Architecture, planning and technical delivery

Hamilton Road, Twickenham

ConservationIn our work on historic buildings we apply a non-doctrinaire approach based on analysis, generation of strategy and implementation. Analysis is the foundation of the whole process. It includes a thorough examination of the building’s form, history, condition and physical and social environment. Where it is available, documentary information is cross referenced with building archaeology to develop a coherent history and an assessment of cultural value. Where necessary, detailed examinations by specialist consultants are recommended and incorporated. Once analysis is complete, a strategy is generated and tailored to the individual conditions.

LandscapeAcanthus LW Landscape Architects is an independent landscape practice that works within the administrative and management umbrella of Acanthus LW. As ‘in house’ landscape architects we are involved from early stages in a full range of projects carried out by the architectural practice. The landscape practice also carries out projects commissioned independently by clients and other architectural consultants and has developed a broad range of specialist landscape and urban design experience. These projects include public and private Residential schemes, Healthcare, Education, Transport and Environmental Improvement projects.

HealthcareAcanthus LW has specialist skills in the health sector, gained from long-term involvement in the development of care homes, hospices and primary care buildings, including design for users with learning difficulties, dementia and other disabilities.

The approach in health projects is to focus on the well being of the building users: patients, staff, and visitors. Our designs aim to create facilities that combine comfortable domesticity with the security of a competent medical environment.

Other SectorsAcanthus LW Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice of architects, historic building consultants and landscape architects, with an experienced staff. Based in west London, Acanthus LW is part of the Acanthus network of independent practices with a dozen offices throughout the UK.As well as housing, the practice operates across many other sectors. Often projects involve input from several sectors and disciplines.

InfrastructureAcanthus LW has a dedicated team fully versed in the procedures, standards and good practice particular to the built infrastructure. Our clients include Transport for London, London Underground, Crossrail, DLR, Network Rail, train operating companies, main contractors and multi disciplinary engineering firms. Projects have ranged from interventions to the existing network, new bridges, viaducts and depots, large scale new build stations and the major remodelling of interchange stations.

EducationWe passionately believe that good design can enhance every school environment and can benefit the learning experience by inspiring and engaging students. We have a collaborative working method, striving to fully understand the needs and opportunities in every project. We view projects holistically and work to find the best design solution and believe in building positive and long lasting relationships with clients and consultants.Through our approach we consistently produce optimal solutions respecting the school’s economic, functional and aesthetic constraints. Accessibility for all and environmental responsibility are taken as an essential part of our approach.

ArchitectsHistoric Building ConsultantsLandscape Architects

Voysey HouseChiswickLondon W4 4PNT: 020 8994 2288

www.acanthuslw.comdesign@acanthuslw.com