BASILDON TOWN CENTRE
A new life for a former 'new town'
Our Basildon Town Centre project will be the catalyst for renewal at the heart of one of Britain’s first post-war ‘new towns’. Our proposal breathes new life into Basildon’s original vision of an affordable, mixed-use town centre by rejuvenating the failing retail environment and attracting families back into the town centre.
We followed an adaptive approach developing a series of measured interventions to the existing buildings and spaces: four residential towers have been seamlessly integrated above the present shopping centre, and new multi-level pathways now connect two key squares, activating under-utilized spaces; while also introducing 500 new-build homes in the airspace above the podium, a raised garden and a new co-work hub (4,000 sqm).
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
The adoption of a tower-on-podium typology is aligned with Basildon’s modernist heritage and allows continuity of trading with benefits for both customers and existing leaseholders on site.
The tallest of the new blocks, Tower A, is envisioned as the new Basildon landmark. Guiding and orienting people around the site, its facade is inspired by the memorable faceted face of Brooke House. We designed a double order, by pairing the floors with faceted bands, giving rhythm and human scale to this building. A play of light and shadow is generated across the facade through cranked panels, with added variation and complexity through staggered windows and balconies.
Tower B adopts instead a more linear design.The facade, inspired by another local building in Town Square, has a horizontal primary expression, created through single order floor bandsm enriched with vertical elements arranged in a woven pattern, with window positions varied to create patterns and rhythm.
Tower C and D adopt a similar approach, with a few key variations: Tower C introduces varying depths, in ‘flip-flop’ alternating rhythms to the floor bands, while Tower D has a more regular and simply stacked rhythm.
Reviving Basildon as an attractive place to live, work and shop
REJUVENATING LOCAL PRIDE
Despite its empty buildings and under-used public spaces, Basildon has a strong identity and unshakeable sense of pride in being different from its surroundings.
Our designs extensively retain and re-purpose many of the existing Modernist buildings. They are the town's heritage and our aim was to enhance their place in the local community and form the base for the re-launch of the town centre.
We have broken down and interwoven land-uses, pulling away from the current mono-retail environment, introducing greater diversity in sizes and uses. We are preparing a place ready for the future, reinforcing the centrality of the town as a hub for business and innovation in a pleasurable urban context with lots of opportunities for socialising and sharing experiences.
Connecting the two key squares to allow flow of movement and inject dynamism into the town
SPACES FOR PEOPLE
Providing residential use above the existing retail buildings will bring much needed density and intensity to the town centre, kick starting economic and social opportunities including the night-time economy. With new residents on site, green spaces to enjoy and varied social and cultural facilities we have sought to create a real mixed-use place that builds on economic needs, social demands and adaptively yet imaginatively re-purposes existing built fabric.
Our proposals supplement the residential community by a fragmenting of the dying big box retail footprint and the introduction of what we have called ‘The Hub’: a flexible business platform to support SME enterprises with workspace, light industrial units and associated leisure infrastructure.
The project will create a greater social mix in the town centre via built-to-rent homes to attract a younger working-age population as well as being suitable for older downsizers to ensure a cross-generational community.
Podium garden with external galleries will offer interconnected green spaces
Location:
Basildon, Essex
Use:
Residential, Retail, Commercial, Office
Status:
Stage 2 Approved
Size:
535 homes; 23,400sqm commercial
Client:
Marson Properties
Project Date:
2019-2021
Collaborators:
Exterior Architecture
