St Peters & St Andrews, London Borough of Hackney

St Peters and St Andrews, is an enhanced sheltered housing development in a residential area of North East London. The sensitive design creates a community of 39 self-contained flats and support facilities for older people or those living with dementia.

Date

2016

Client

Family Mosaic

Value

£5m

The site originally housed a sheltered residential scheme which offered poor quality accommodation and had reached the end of its serviceable life. Located in a quiet residential area, the plot consists of a strip of land running between two parallel roads, the site has two street frontages. To the south of the development site is a Grade 2 listed church, to the north a mixture of mid-rise apartment buildings and villas.

jmarchitects gained planning consent for a full redevelopment of the site creating 39 dwellings in two linked five storey buildings one addressing each street elevation. The two buildings are linked at ground floor by a series of shared use facilities, including therapy and treatment rooms, a community café, dining rooms, social spaces and a central sensory garden.

The sensitive design is a well-mannered addition to the varied streetscape. The shape of the building re-interprets the grand bay windows of the Victorian villas in the area, enabling dwellings to have dynamic views of the street. The profile is carefully sculpted to maintain daylight to the surrounding buildings and preserve sensitive views of the listed church. The design of the dwellings and support spaces enables the residents to live independent lives with levels of support appropriate to their needs, whilst remaining in the familiar surroundings of their local community.

Project gallery

Below are a selection of images from this project along with a description. Tap an image and it will appear fullscreen with a close button. There will also be the option to view the next image in the gallery.

The Challenge

To create a community within a building which is sensitive to the changing needs of the residents, offering safety, support and privacy whilst remaining a part of the larger local community.

The Solution

The design creates two buildings linked by spaces at the ground floor and a sensory courtyard. The dwellings are carefully grouped within each of the two buildings to help build a sense of community. The layout strives to enable residents to maintain independence for as long as possible within a non-institutional environment. The architecture mediates between the local context and the residents need for privacy and security.

The Outcome

The careful consideration of streetscape, sunlight, the heritage context and our clients brief lead to planning consent being granted for this relatively high-density residential development. The thoughtful arrangement of spaces and the careful use of light and material are instrumental in creating a serene and caring environment for the residents. jmarchitects took the project to the equivalent of Stage 3 following which PTEA delivered the Stage 4 work with the selected D&B contractor, remaining truthful to the original design.