BLOCK H3, HENDON BROADWAY
A landmark to connect the urban with the water's edge
Lying at the heart of the Hendon Waterside development, building H3-H4 was created within phase 3 of the masterplan for this major regeneration project in north-west London. Occupying the highest position on the site, it plays a pivotal role in the formation of a new neighbourhood and the regeneration of the commercial strip. A distinctive block of 76 homes with ground-level shops and cafés, H3-H4 is located between the Broadway and the new public space: Broadway Place. It forms a crucial link between the main thoroughfare, the residential core and the Welsh Harp reservoir.
Simple and Solid
Building H3-H4 aims to work in harmony with its neighbouring Victorian brick buildings and its location as a gateway to the public spaces sloping down to the Welsh Harp. Its character is simple and solid with elements of distinction created through the use of striped buff and red palette brickwork.
The frontage to the Broadway – learning lessons from some of the 19th century buildings close by – has a fine grain and is made up of trabeated layers of brickwork, offset with white concrete cills. By contrast, the side facades are simpler while the Welsh Harp frontage is more flamboyant with deep-set, full-width balconies to enjoy the view and the sunny exposure to the maximum.
Concrete accents tie all the elevations together, with deep cills dotting the facades and with a solid-face balcony parapet contrasted by glazed sides to create a transparent, permeable connection with the waterside.
The building creates a deep backdrop as seen from the reservoir
A Local Landmark
Building H3-H4 is a keystone building for the masterplan providing a sense of arrival to the new neighbourhood. Located on the highest point of the site, it acts as a guidepost to greet residents and visitors from Hendon Station, leading them from the high street down to the Welsh Harp via an improved pedestrian route.
The entire length of H3-H4’s north-west facade interfaces with Broadway Place, a new public space connecting the Green’s stepped landscape down to the waterside park. The residential entrance is centrally located making Broadway Park the main approach for residents.
Facing onto the Green, the lower retail unit is ideally located to become a fantastic cafe serving the community. The building’s shared amenity space is located on the roof of the building featuring 360 degree views across the site with a direct outlook onto the Welsh Harp. Besides hard landscaping, the design envisages lawn-type landscaping for residents to enjoy.
Solid-face balcony parapets contrast with glazed sides to create a transparent, permeable connection with the waterside; The building responds to the transition from the busy street to the quiet waterside
The building responds to the transition from the busy street to the quiet waterside
Responding to its Context
The transition from the busy street to the quiet waterside is reflected in the character of the building’s facades and the orientation of its windows and balconies. The tower portion steps out to create deep, cantilevered balconies in embossed concrete, as if carved from a solid masonry block, to maximise views of the water.
The building’s mass rises up and reaches out, not only to enjoy the south-westerly outlook, but also to form a positive end-stop to the new green space, especially as seen from the bottom of the hill.
Each frontage differs in response to its immediate context, both to optimise orientation and quality of interiors and to set up positive dialogue with the surrounding buildings and spaces.
The elevations are divided in three layers: a strong base, a lower portion with three floors and an upper portion with seven floors, topped by a minute crown framing the communal garden at roof level.
Solid-face balcony parapets contrast with glazed sides to create a transparent, permeable connection with the waterside
Location:
London
Use:
Residential and Commercial
Status:
Built
Size:
76 homes; 610sqm commercial
Client:
Barratt London, Metropolitan Thames Valley, London Borough of Barnet
Project Date:
2015-2018
Collaborators:
Allies and Morrison, Allen Pyke Associates
