An important regeneration project in the London Borough of Hackney, One Crown Place is an exciting mixed-use development where old and new have been combined to form a dynamic city block.
Rethinking the nature of the site, the scheme is activated on all sides by a diverse range of uses: retail, boutique hotel, office space and high-end residential. Maximising permeability was a priority. At the centre of the site a new courtyard creates a focus, providing access to the residences, external dining space for the hotel, and amenity for both office workers and members of the public. Building services were carefully planned to free up roof space to provide gardens for residents.
Sensitive and respectful to the context and conservation area setting, a locally-listed Georgian terrace is retained and refurbished and a 1970s office block transformed to meet the highest contemporary standards. The adaptive reuse of a Victorian warehouse, the masonry façade of which has been retained, creatively links historic elements with the dramatic new six-storey podium and residential towers.
Building height on the new-build elements ranges from mid- to high-rise and distinctive façades both complement and contrast with the historical setting. Glazed terracotta on the external perimeter facades references the masonry and glazed-brick buildings that characterise the area. Bespoke screen-printed glass panels on the interior facades juxtapose against the terracotta. Organised in an informal pattern by a commissioned artist, these panels respond to the tradition of craft in Hackney.
Status: Built
Location: London, GB
Firm Role: Architect
