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Article from issue 9/2008 »Living Together«

Housing Development in London

typology p. 946 - 948
Architect Peter Barber Architects | Structural Engineer Colin Toms + Partners |

Drafts
1:3000 Site plan
1:750 Floor plans
1:750 Section

With housing comprising 70 per cent of all buildings in London, the architect felt that a scheme of this kind had to respect the principles of urban planning. Erected on the site of a former high-rise housing block, the present development in East London, was to be low-rise, but built to a high density. Designed to be free of cars and without front gardens, the lanes between the houses are solely for the use of pedestrians and children and are linked with the housing units by means of oriel windows, balconies and terraces. The houses, 1–3 storeys in height, are like private islands within the public space. Every unit has its own front door to the street. In this way a balance was achieved between privacy and public life.