Integrating old and new
The Stephenson Street Masterplan site is a derelict landlocked area surrounded by road and railway lines, which separate the site from its neighbouring communities and transport links.
As part of the new masterplan we were tasked with improving accessibility to the site and the surrounding area by the addition of a second entrance to the existing West Ham station building and two new pedestrian bridges.
The masterplan will deliver high-density residential units, offices, local amenities, a public park and a school. Our role was to determine how the development would link with the existing local communities to the east, factoring in the projected increase in footfall it would bring.
The new station entrance needed to be integrated into the existing station structure, completely self-supporting and bridge over the Jubilee line tracks to connect the masterplan podium to the existing station concourse.
Designed for growth
The new station entrance sits prominently within the masterplan podium, clad in concrete panels at low level with glazing above. The glazing will be backlit to create an illuminated halo effect around the new station building, with the canopy appearing to float weightlessly above. A limited palette of materials are used for simplicity and elegance.
We approached the footbridges as an extension of the masterplan, acting as gateways to the existing residential areas and integrating the old with the new. The bridges consist of solid brick anchoring elements at either end with a light single span steel structure spanning between
The designs successfully balance the clients’ masterplan ambitions with the requirements of London Underground and were achieved through close liaison with all parties in design meetings and creative workshops. Working closely with the station masterplan allows the area to adapt and evolve over time with minimum disruption
