Stratford Cross London
Alison Brooks Architects has designed a pair of towers at the northern threshold to Stratford Cross from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Next to London’s emerging East Bank, they signal a new residential neighbourhood in what is currently a workspace-led development. Park Place’s two 35- and 14-storey towers will together provide 350 homes above a colonnaded ground floor of commercial and community uses.
The hexagonal towers feature stepped massing; ‘park ledges’ that will allow the park greenery to climb the towers in a spiralling movement. Their bespoke ultramarine blue-glazed terra-cotta and brick cladding references the porcelain industry that once thrived in Stratford. A combination of park ledges, colonnades, an undulating terracotta cladding profile, deep window reveals and cornices will offer both texture and urban character, evoking the craftsmanship found in the early 20th Century’s most memorable residential towers.
The scheme’s hexagonal tower forms maximise dual aspect homes as well as sunlight reaching a newly biodiverse public realm by LDA Design. The landscape will feature a natural amphitheatre, nature trails and playspaces for IQL’s new residential community. The north tower’s street level colonnade is enlivened with retail and service spaces, a community project space and a ‘super-lobby’ that expands into a co-working space. Park ledges, green roofs and planted upper-level terraces will contribute to an enhanced ecological environment. Parking, cycle store, plant, and other services are concealed in a basement level.
Justin Davies, Head of Residential at Lendlease Europe, said: “Alison Brooks Architects have a wealth of experience in designing high quality residential buildings, and they have been hugely collaborative throughout this process. We are keen for that approach to continue as we take forward a project that will see us double the amount of housing on offer at Park Place.”
Alison Brooks, principal and creative director of Alison Brooks Architects, said: ‘This project has been a rare opportunity to rethink the nature of residential towers in London, how they can contribute to life of the street and how they can act as neighbourhood catalysts.’
Alison Brooks Architects’ Leadership: Alison Brooks, Nelson Carvalho, Ruben Ramos, Chen Man