BLOCK D, RESERVOIR EDGE
Completing the waterfront
Block D sits on the edge of the Welsh Harp reservoir, defining the north-eastern edge of the Hendon Waterside regeneration development. Composed of eight buildings grouped in two clusters: D1-4 designed by Hutchinson & Partners and D5-8 by Makower Architects, the block masses work together with contrasting scales and a varying roof line to create visual interest and respond to their proximity to the reservoir. Each of the clusters have a tall building completing the Hendon skyline; D4, being the tallest in the masterplan, features 29-storeys of residential accommodation, while the second tallest, D5, steps down to harmonise with the lower surrounding context.
Both D5 (left) and D4 (second left) share a similar design language with the now-completed E2 and K2 towers (right), contributing to a distinctive and cohesive waterfront character
MAXIMISING VIEWS
D5-8 will house 315 homes, comprising a mix of private and intermediate tenures, within a C-shaped courtyard, and enclose a podium garden facing York Park, which runs along the Welsh Harp waterside. Residents of Block D will have direct access to York Park and will also enjoy clear views from the podium garden to the Welsh Harp Nature Reserve through gaps between the block masses. Both tall buildings offer communal roof terraces for their residents.
The massing of Block D incorporates stepped forms to match the height of nearby buildings and to maximise daylight and sunlight into the courtyard and streets, with several gaps providing further light and openness.
The angled nature of West Street allows for vistas to open in multiple directions
ELEGANT PROPORTIONS
The angled arrangement of D5-8 defines North Street and, together with the planned school building opposite the site, guides people as they descend towards the waterfront and the Silk Stream Bridge.
The D5 tower is designed in response to its orientation and height to maintain an elegant and slender proportion: rotated at 45° to the other three towers and slightly shorter, it marks the end point of the Hendon skyline. Long horizontal balconies extend along all the south and west facades maximising the amenity space towards the Welsh Harp reservoir, making the most of the exceptional outlook and reducing the risk of overheating.
A simple material palette unites all the buildings across the site, creating a strong sense of neighbourhood.
Location:
London
Use:
Residential
Status:
Approved
Size:
315 homes
Client:
Barratt London, Metropolitan Thames Valley, London Borough of Barnet
Project Date:
2017-2023
Collaborators:
Allies and Morrisons, Gillespies, Hutchinson & Partners
