Barchester Street
Details
Brick Manufacturers: Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC, Ibstock Brick Limited & Forterra PLC
Architect: Metropolitan Workshop
Brickwork Contractor: Brickstone Construction Ltd
About the project
Metropolitan Workshop has completed a striking Fletton brick and zinc-clad scheme in the Limehouse Cut Conservation Area of East London. The 115 new homes comprise part of Canary Wharf Group’s affordable housing commitment associated with their Newfoundland development.
Situated alongside the Limehouse Cut canal and bound on three other sides by Balladier Walk, Barchester and Chrisp Street, the site was occupied by two abutting industrial buildings: a large factory (1939) and warehouse (1956). The factory’s dramatic sawtooth roofscapes were emblematic of the industrial revolution and permitted sunlight to penetrate deep into the structure.
The scheme redevelops these industrial buildings to provide three residential blocks, while retaining the historic integrity of the original structures. Roof profiles, structural and decorative elements are all sensitively redeployed and facades, such as the canal side, are retained where possible. Each elevation is expressed uniquely, to evoke the charm of the site’s historic structures while delivering a range of housing in an efficient and sustainable manner.