Hackney Wick is a project to provide nearly 200 new homes, affordable and commercial workspace and public realm, across three sites at the centre of Hackney Wick in London. We were invited to collaborate with Henley Halebrown, Haworth Tompkins, Witherford Watson Mann, ZCD, and LDA, on a design which responds to the rich history of craft, manufacturing and industry in the area. Our proposal creates a lively neighbourhood centre that reinforces Hackney Wick's distinctive sense of place.
Our design reflects Hackney Wick's spirit of joy, eccentricity, experimentation and innovation, with playful moments in its materiality and detail. A new 8-storey tower acts as a marker for the neighbourhood centre, with playful openings that invert the window arches of nearby warehouses. Residential entrances, retail and workspace are located on main routes, creating active and lively ground floor frontages onto the historic streets. Entrances are special moments in the elevational treatment and an opportunity to showcase the heritage and craft of Hackney Wick’s local designers and makers. Brick is the predominant façade material with accents in durable, well-crafted secondary materials, including brick fragments cast in lintels, and terrazzo, which allows possibilities for recycled aggregates such as glass, stone and marble. Planters are integrated into the facade design to encourage growing on balconies, and the urban greening of a centre, where biodiversity is currently lacking. The public realm provides additional opportunties for urban greening through a new pocket park, alongside new intergenerational play spaces and community curated art spaces, contributing towards a healthier, more inclusive and sustainable piece of the city.
Client: Swan Housing Group & Igloo Regeneration
Collaborators: Haworth Tompkins, Henley Halebrown, LDA Design, Unscene Architecture, Witherford Watson Mann, ZCD Architects, Atkins
MKA/Unscene Team: Madeleine Kessler, Rosie Hervey, Ness Lafoy
Image Credit: Secchi Smith
