Heritage corner context
The primary design challenge was to develop a solution that addressed the prominent street corner location – within a conservation area facing the Leathermarket warehouses, Leathermarket Gardens to the north and adjacency to a key pedestrian route linking Bermondsey Street to London Bridge.
The need for basement and ground floor level workspaces required our designs to mitigate the flood risk and maximise day-light to these areas. To maximise site value and achieve planning consent we sought to enrich the backdrop to Leathermarket Gardens, bringing activity back to this historic street corner.
Maximum use of a prime site
Our design solution replaced an existing low quality commercial building with a residential led mixed-use proposal. The site presents two clear but opposing faces and the building is viewed 'in the round', influenced by its street edge condition facing both listed buildings and tower blocks.
While the existing building only occupied 50% of the full site footprint (0.037 ha) we extended its useable space. A raised and inset ground floor provided high quality naturally lit workspace, freeing the upper stories for high value market sale homes. At three units per floor benefits from good quality views across the conservation area,
the adjacent park and London Bridge Quarter beyond.
Height and massing strategies were explored and tested with the local planning authority and community interest groups. The final design, at five stories, was a result of these engagement discussions and ensured the design achieved Saxon Genitive’s, the client’s, brief and maximised the opportunity for planning consent.
The building form, material selection and floor planning all emphasise the importance of the corner site. The elevation treatment has a gradually changing order as each floor unfolds.