Robust, skilled, delightful and full of lovely details
Hawkins\Brown for Peabody
Contract value: £45m,
GIA: 17,270m²
This Phase I design of 154 new homes has three distinctive architectural styles, each using a different brick and each articulated differently. Done to give clarity and uniqueness to the parts of this large scheme, it also resolves the different site conditions – the 1930s Peabody estate it sits between a historic terrace and the railway cutting.
The site layout responds to its surroundings but also pre-empts the next phases of a bigger, transformative masterplan. Peabody, with the architect, has masterminded the process of enticing original tenants back into the new dwellings. It seems to be a secure and successful place in which to live.
The achievement here has been the quality of the build and landscape. Throughout it is robust, skilled, delightful and full of lovely details – such as artist Rodney Harris’ brick reliefs which are movingly and beautifully made. And the landscape successfully resolves the key issues of public and private space, with high quality materials and planting everywhere.