Steeped in history, the area was once a busy part of London Docklands and where the capital established its reputation as the world’s greatest trading hub.
When plans were announced in 2019 to transform the neighbourhood into a new community of homes, commercial and leisure space, it was clear that there would be a fine balance to strike: how to create a vibrant and thriving neighbourhood that remained loyal to the area’s rich heritage?
TODD Architects was appointed by developer, Ballymore, to complete the detail design and delivery of the scheme, designed by Allies and Morrison. The external wall fabric detailing was of particular interest to the TODD Architects team. The blocks within the development needed to combine a traditional cavity wall construction design with an offsite manufactured walling system, eliminating the need for a frame and enabling the brickwork to be set into precast sandwich elements. The team turned to Wienerberger to specify the project’s brickwork.
“Our practice has been regular specifiers of Wienerberger brick for some considerable time and we were well aware of both the quality of Wienerberger’s products as well as the extensive range of brick available,” explained Peter Minnis, director at TODD Architects. “In this project, the range of brick was particularly important. Given the scale of the development and mix of residential space, the concept was to incorporate a range of brick colours to add variety and individuality across the different residential blocks.”
The bricks specified included Wienerberger’s Pampas, Platinum White and Hampstead Yellow bricks (Platinum White and Hampstead Yellow bricks now discontinued). The Pampas and Blue Velvet bricks reflected more earthy red and brown tones, with the Hempstead Yellow incorporating a lighter tone. The tones and textured facades of these brick types offered a contrast to the much lighter and smooth facing Platinum White brick.
Praising the teamwork and relationship across the TODD Architects and Wienerberger team throughout the project, Peter continues: “We would recommend Wienerberger again without hesitation. In our experience, it’s not only the product that has impressed but also the quality of support provided throughout the entire process.”
When considering the success of the scheme, Peter points to the accolades that the development has garnered since completion: “Both ourselves and the client were delighted with the final result but the quality of the finished article is probably more directly evidenced in the number of awards that the development has secured.”
In 2022 Goodluck Hope won the Best Place to Live at the Building Planning Awards, Best Luxury Development at the What House? annual awards as well as scooping Development of the Year (over 100 homes category) at the British Homes Awards. More recently, the development won the Best Large Development category in the Evening Standards New Homes Awards.
Perhaps the real testament in the success of the brick specification lies in the Brick Development Awards 2022, where the team picked up Large Housing Development Award; judges praised the aesthetic as in keeping with the local style, saying that it “remains faithful in the area’s rich maritime heritage.” But it wasn’t just the aesthetics that won the judges over. The “real community” and “incredibly exciting luxury riverside development” were also pointed out as crucial to the project’s success – one that rightly reflects its proud history while building a new legacy for the local neighbourhood.
Awards and Accolades
Products Used
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