The owner of this residential scheme in Bermondsey, close to Tower Bridge, was not satisfied with the original plans and came to Make to see if we could offer a better alternative. After in-depth analysis and extensive design work, we proposed a taller simpler, more striking building that establishes a bold presence in this rapidly burgeoning neighbourhood.
Our design comprises 154 apartments across nine levels, plus a significant provision of ground-floor office space – a balanced living and working community that continues the rapid spread of regeneration in Southwark. The upper floors benefit from fantastic views across London and access to a series of generous roof terraces. A south-facing private communal garden sits at the heart of the scheme, providing an attractive, secluded space that can be used by both residents and workers.
We chose a palette of high-quality traditional and contemporary materials that reference the 19th-century warehouse architecture, specifically its narrow streets, London brick, archways and tall buildings. The resulting structure harmonises with the area’s characterful streetscape and acts as a distinctive local reference point, its recognisable shape and multicoloured ‘fins’ bringing simpler wayfinding to the complicated street grid.
We drew inspiration from the traditional warehouse buildings of South East London to recreate a traditional streetscape in a contemporary way.
