Parkside, Clapham, London, UK

Parkside Clapham represents the transformation of a waste recycling depot into a cluster of some 250 homes on a 1.5 hectare site, just South of Clapham Common, within a few minutes walk of Clapham Common station.

Inspired by the memory of the meandering ponds which flowed across the site in the 19th Century, the plan creates a series of positive green spaces, stepping down the strongly sloping site, formed in direct response to the layout of neighbouring blocks.

A quiet haven is created, but one which is connected to surrounding streets via a series of well defined thresholds and relationships.

In terms of built form this series of apartment blocks, ranging from five to ten storeys, is articulated with a vertical grain and is sculpted to create a rich skyline.

Meanwhile a line of town houses gives an intermediary scale along the perimeter of the site.