Jubilee Street, Tower Hamlets, London

The second of our three projects in east London by the same architect, Bell Phillips, is at Jubilee Street. The design concept was primarily focused on repairing the urban fabric of the local townscape. The building has been positioned so that it knits into the existing urban fabric and encloses a pre-existing garden square, used by young families and residents. These gardens have been retained and enhanced as part of the proposals to create the foundation for healthful activities and an improved quality of life in the local area.

Containing 24 homes in total, the development aims to provide for a broad range of end-users, the upper floors consist of a mixture of 1, 2,3 and 4-bed units, all of which are dual aspect. Visually the building has been arranged so that it has a clear relationship to the low-rise buildings that wrap around the public green space.

By stepping back from the site boundary to both the east and the west Bell Phillips have been able to retain locally significant trees while also creating a zone of defensible planting and new trees to the east. These setbacks help to improve the biodiversity of the site, creating habitats for many native species. The ground floor recycling and refuse storage will encourage zero-waste lifestyles and good management of resources.

Engaging with the urban realm at multiple scales, Jubilee Street’s main entrance adds an element of grandeur, raised to double-height and positioned at the centre of the elevation. Two wheelchair-accessible units are provided at ground level with entrances to the street, which will help to create activity adjacent to the pavement edge. The brick facades, using brick by Wienerberger, create a robust and solid appearance while also ensuring that the proposal blends with the surrounding area. Using three different bond types, the warm yellow brick adds texture and visual interest for passers-by.

Each of the three developments across Tower Hamlets, the final one which is to be featured later in the summer, has their own unique qualities and each responds extremely well to a specific context with thoughtful architecture.