The Eight Gardens is a residential-led scheme for 1,214 new homes, in a mix of studios, one, two and three bedroom apartments with supporting public realm, commercial floor space, parking and servicing areas in Watford. The wider scheme also includes a new two-form entry primary school and further civic spaces.

Situated directly adjacent to the transport hub of Watford Junction and ranging in scale from 8 storeys to 28 storeys the site, at over 2.5 hectares, represents the first large scale development within the masterplan for the Watford Junction Special Policy Area.

The project aims to offer the experience of high quality luxury serviced residential apartments often found in Central London to the residents of Watford. It will also provide the additional benefits to residents of managed amenities such as a gym, private cinema and working facilities.

Following years of neglect, the Grade II Listed Chapel (constructed in 1928-9) for Westfield College, has been given a secure future by careful refurbishment and conversion to residential use in order to preserve and safeguard the building in perpetuity.

It was originally built in an austere and restrained classical design in rendered brickwork with a stone portico. A modern extension has been added to the rear so that the Chapel is retained as one large internal space, with a semi-circular apse at the western end. A new mezzanine deck provides accommodation within the apse over the former alter area. A modern extension has been added to the rear

The ceiling retains a central line of recessed panels with two smaller lines of symmetrical panels to either side. Tall pilaster strips and oak paneling below the dado level retain the internal character of the space whilst accommodating the newly inserted windows below the existing clerestory.

The Skeel Library is a Grade II listed building, originally constructed in 1903-4 as Westfield College’s first purpose-built library. The internal detailing in an Edwardian Baroque style features a gallery (added in 1911) of turned oak balusters that match the ‘fumed oak’ of the shelving below. The gallery, balusters and shelving were all retained and refurbished along with the timber cornice and dentil detail which continues around the entire room.

In addition to the alterations to the second floor, changes were required to the layout to convert the building into a single home. The layouts have been designed to minimise the impact of any interventions and the historic fabric was retained and refurbished as far as is possible and replaced with new to period detail where appropriate.

The conversion retains the essence of the original historic building whilst allowing new life to be breathed into the Skeel Library to secure its future.

As part of the largest regeneration site in Europe, the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, covering 10.2 hectares (25 acres), incorporates some 940 new residential dwellings through restoration, conversion and infill development of the main heritage area.

Having played an integral part in the history of the Royal Arsenal, the many Listed Buildings on the site have been successfully converted to accommodate refurbished apartments with considerable character, retaining many original features. Elsewhere, modern architecture has been sensitively integrated with the period facades, to extend and enhance the redundant industrial buildings and re-establish the nineteenth century format of quadrangles and coutyards.

The development has won a vast array of design awards, particularly in the regeneration of the redundant former military site.

The Open Market in Brighton was established in the locality after WW1 and provided the returning service men the opportunity of selling home grown produce to the local community. Originally set up in the cobbled front gardens of workers cottages, the site has undergone several redevelopments to accommodate the evolving facilities.

The current redevelopment represents the culmination of many years of complicated negotiations between the various stakeholders and provides 44 permanent market stalls and 12 workshops accessed via a large covered piazza for visiting crafts and farmers markets. Critical to the viability of the scheme was the provision of 87 shared ownership flats for Hyde Martlet.

The project recreates historic street patterns and contributes to the City Council’s strategic plan for the regeneration of the area, linking public open space to the east with pedestrian routes to the railway station to the west.

As part of an ongoing programme of upgrades at HSBC HQ 8 Canada Square one of our recent projects has been the complete revamp of Level 36 & Level 39 for Finance. This is all part of a wider London-wide project which aims to bring the HSBC’s Property Portfolio in line with their newly launched version of the Global Workplace Standards.

The project comprised the entire re-planning of the two floors; adjusting workstation positions to create space for Collaboration Areas, the design and implementation of the new spaces, adjustment to some existing rooms, upgrades and modifications to the refreshment facilities, new floor finishes throughout and some redecorations and alterations to the MEP infrastructure to suit.

The Design Process required the preparation of a detailed bespoke Concept Package with an emphasis on local context with look and feel elements such as; inspirational imagery, local materials, local history and a project specific palette creation all developed through a process of a much closer engagement with the end user. With this level of engagement it is hoped the people using the spaces will have a stronger sense of involvement and ownership.

Acton Gardens forms a welcome new part of the South Acton Estate and is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe. It is a joint venture between London & Quadrant and Countryside Properties involving the phased demolition of poor quality tower blocks and housing stock, with strategic replacement of community focused residential, retail and commercial facilities.

Spread over multiple phases, the rolling decant and redevelopment delivers new private and affordable dwellings, often with landscaped podiums separating commercial and community facilities at street level. As well as providing quality residential dwellings it is hoped that the introduction of a Community Centre, Youth Centre, Dentist, Supermarket and further retail premises will help recreate a sense of place.

This former Campus, part of Westfield College, comprises a variety of thirteen buildings, six of which are listed. The earliest, Kidderpore Hall, dates from 1843, built as a residence for a wealthy East India Merchant.

The retained heritage buildings have been refurbished and sensitively converted to residential use, whilst the more recent former Halls of Residence have been cleared away and replaced with new apartment blocks, reflecting the position, scale and massing of the former buildings, together with new townhouses.

Kidderpore Hall, the Chapel and Skeel Library, comprise the dominant heritage buildings which have all been restored and converted to provide single family residences. The three remaining larger existing buildings have been converted to provide more of a range of accommodation.

All the accommodation of 156 dwellings is supported by a variety of facilities including a leisure facility, an energy centre and two storeys of underground car parking.

This former Catering College in Battersea, comprised a collection of Listed Buildings, mainly originally designed by Edward Mountford, together with a variety of modern teaching blocks unsuitable for conversion and well past their prime.

The Heritage buildings were refurbished and converted to provide a series of character apartments with retained or restored features. Integrated new build blocks, set around traditional courtyards, replace the former modern additions, providing a variety of residential styles and tenures, knitting the patchwork of new and old together.

The former main Assembly Hall whilst retaining the original façade to the street frontage, had lost its courtyard face through various modern additions and alterations. The building was re-established in original construction style, detailing and appearance, whilst facilitating conversion to residential use.

The project was initially purchased by Linden Homes as an approved planning scheme designed by Conran & Partners. A&Q completely reworked the design to achieve statutory compliance and improve the ‘buildability’ of the scheme. Whilst the changes to the plans were significant deference was made to the original planning approval at all times ensuring the revisions were approved as a non-material planning amendment.

The plan consists of 3 Low Rise Blocks ranging from 2 – 4 storeys in height with 193 units overall comprising 4 private houses, 39 affordable apartments and 150 private apartments. There is also a 385m2 Café & Basement Parking for 145 cars.

The site benefits from a lovely aspect, flanked by the Wandle River and King George’s Park. It is however also within the flood plain, which required careful design to ensure the basement would not be flooded and that any flood water displaced by the development could be accommodated within the site boundary.

Further challenges came from the planning approval, which required London Housing Design Guide compliance for all units, plus Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 compliance.