ARCHITECTURE
Giving East London New Life
Trendy new housing along the Thames River in the former industrial area of East London is taking shape.
23 November, 2016
Long-neglected East London is becoming a high-density urban residential area – and that job is getting done with a lot of aluminium.
The 2012 Olympic Games helped to put Greenwich and its royal borough status on the map, helping the area take advantage of its status as a UNESCO world heritage site. Yet this 36,400 square meter site had been abandoned for decades before a new spate of development that is aligned with the riverside shops and newly accessible Thames Path.
Enderby Wharf, originally named for an 18th-century shipping entrepreneur, is now pulsing with new life along the riverfront. The ambitious project lines up a series of apartment buildings that offer 200 meters of uninterrupted water views facing Canary Wharf, with space for a total of 770 apartments.
Enderby Wharf, originally named for an 18th-century shipping entrepreneur, is now pulsing with new life along the riverfront. The ambitious project lines up a series of apartment buildings that offer 200 meters of uninterrupted water views facing Canary Wharf, with space for a total of 770 apartments.
Image: Barrat Thomes
The exteriors of the Enderby Wharf structures are created by CGL Facades, using a powder-coated aluminium cladding chosen to protect them from the marine environment. The Thames River is considered a saltwater estuary, which means the building materials have to provide the required protections.
That is why the units are wrapped in 20,000 square meters of the aluminium Rainscreen product, with an additional 3,000 square meters of wallplank system at the soffits and related products elsewhere. The aluminium cladding is designed to last more than 25 years in the saltwater environment, while creating brightly colored facades in cheery orange, rust and blue – adding to touches of architectural creativity.
That is why the units are wrapped in 20,000 square meters of the aluminium Rainscreen product, with an additional 3,000 square meters of wallplank system at the soffits and related products elsewhere. The aluminium cladding is designed to last more than 25 years in the saltwater environment, while creating brightly colored facades in cheery orange, rust and blue – adding to touches of architectural creativity.
Image: RBA Acoustics
The aluminium cladding also had to accommodate a few of those creative features, including small fins on the side of a building and perforated materials on the balconies. The overall effect of the aluminium panels and floor-to-ceiling glass leaves admirers of Enderby Wharf with a clean, modern impression.
Inside, the apartment units come in a range of sizes that begin with modest studios and soar to the penthouse. Units in the various buildings are designed for mixed incomes, with funding support for first time buyers through the London Help to Buy program. What all owners get for their money, though, are well-appointed units designed for residential living but which can be reconfigured for work spaces.
Inside, the apartment units come in a range of sizes that begin with modest studios and soar to the penthouse. Units in the various buildings are designed for mixed incomes, with funding support for first time buyers through the London Help to Buy program. What all owners get for their money, though, are well-appointed units designed for residential living but which can be reconfigured for work spaces.
The units have open floor plans, light wood and tile flooring, white and chrome fixtures in kitchen and bath, and quality appliances. They are designed with simplicity in mind, and make the most of available natural lighting to enhance the bright and airy feel.
Residents have access to a range of amenities that include a bar and restaurant in the Enderby House building – the flagship of the apartment complex. The historic building, built in the 1830s, was restored to be a centerpiece of culture within a modern vision.
Other perks being offered to residents include concierge service, private landscaped gardens, a fitness suite for residents, and play area, while the river piers offer a water-taxi option for those who would rather ferry to work, while three stations in London's transit system are within walking distance.
Image: Rockwell Residential
Residents have access to a range of amenities that include a bar and restaurant in the Enderby House building – the flagship of the apartment complex. The historic building, built in the 1830s, was restored to be a centerpiece of culture within a modern vision.
Other perks being offered to residents include concierge service, private landscaped gardens, a fitness suite for residents, and play area, while the river piers offer a water-taxi option for those who would rather ferry to work, while three stations in London's transit system are within walking distance.
Image: Rockwell Residential
All the considerations factored into the Enderby Wharf project symbolize an urban vision rooted in sustainability. Barratt London began the project in 2014 and expects to complete the final phases next year.
Image: Knight Dragon
Enderby Wharf is not the only major project underway in the area. In September 2015, the Royal Borough of Greenwich planning board approved developer Knight Dragon's plans for a new development (designed by architects Allies & Morrison) that would include 13,000 homes, two schools, a transportation hub, and even a film studio. That plan, estimated to total £8.4 billion, received final approval from London's then-mayor Boris Johnson two months later.
With Greenwich's transformation well underway, those seeking to enjoy the Greenwich scene with its boutique shops, pubs and markets are already taking part in the revitalization of this once-neglected borough of the British capital.
With Greenwich's transformation well underway, those seeking to enjoy the Greenwich scene with its boutique shops, pubs and markets are already taking part in the revitalization of this once-neglected borough of the British capital.
Banner image: Jason Hawkes