BLOCK H1, EAST STREET
Crafting sociable spaces in Hendon Waterside
H1 is part of Makower Architects’ second phase on Hendon Waterside, a major regeneration project in north-west London. Located to the south of the site, this seven-storey building, containing 47 homes, stitches the new development into its context. Its playful side facades and angled geometries establish a positive relationship to the neighbouring buildings along the Broadway. While its L-shape plan establishes a strong corner along East Street and forms space for a communal courtyard at the back with opportunities for community building.
CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
The residents’ journey is curated to enhance the sense of home, with dedicated porches for each duplex providing direct access from the street while also improving the street life.
The base of the building is more solid, with carved openings and robust porches. The homes on the upper levels are accessed via generous external galleries in the form of double-height spaces or stacked arcades, offering privacy to the community while creating informal gathering spaces.
All flats have at least two aspects, with windows that open directly onto the external gallery, increasing the chances to meet fellow residents and thereby strengthening the sense of community within the building.
A lattice frame blurs the threshold between interior and exterior
MORE THAN A GALLERY BLOCK
Building H1's simple L-shaped form is knitted onto the existing properties to create a C-shape block open to the air and sun. This blurring of indoor and outdoor spaces maximises dual aspects and opportunities to socialise. A mix of one, two and three-bed units are accessible from external galleries that connect to a central core on the upper floors, while a row of duplexes wrap around the ground floor ensuring an active street frontage.
The mass is articulated with playful steps responding to its adjacent context with a lower wing closer to the Broadway and with a taller facade towards the other new blocks.
H1 is composed of two interlocking parts; firstly, the ‘holder’, which anchors the slightly projecting street corner and folds down to mark the entrance and make a base for the second element, the ‘end-stop’, which is encrusted with an offset grid of staggered balconies.
At ground-level, a secluded courtyard offers residents a peaceful, sheltered space in which to relax and unwind while also benefiting the neighbours as a visual amenity.
The courtyard garden is not treated as a back but an essential element to build social tissue
MEDIUM-SCALE PICTURESQUE
The playful character of this building is reflected by the ‘dancing’ staggered balconies benefitting from the south-west orientation to create a strong play of shadows.
The carved block appearance is reinforced by the simple material palette: two tones of brick emphasise the interlocking concept, expanded metal mesh to all balcony balustrades, optimised to balance levels of privacy and transparency depending on the view angle.
The building has a strong hierarchy of front, back and sides all treated with equal attention. The careful composition of these elements creates rich and complex elevations that contribute to the sense of place when entering the new neighbourhood.
A strong play of shadows from the ‘dancing’ balconies
Location:
London
Use:
Residential
Status:
Built
Size:
47 homes
Client:
Barratt London, Metropolitan Thames Valley, London Borough of Barnet
Project Date:
2016-2019
Collaborators:
Allies and Morrisons, Cameo and Partners
