A major project in north London has just received planning permission; a ‘pixelated’ residential scheme will replace a historic clock tower and a derelict petrol station. The architects behind the project, NEUBAU, are an emerging practice consisting of thinkers and designers with international experience.

28 apartments will be arranged in smaller six meter wide units, in a way which reduces the overall visual impact of the development. The building up of height, and its corner location, creates an acoustic shield created by the corner frontage has created a sheltered area behind the building for a communal garden; a ‘private oasis’ for future residents.

The site, a challenging corner on two very busy roads, is currently home for a disused petrol station and a large clock tower. Following a long and difficult planning process, the aptly named ‘Tower Station’ development will maintain the cubic volumes of the existing tower, and its civic function at the same time, with a large mechanical clock.

Brigitta Lenz, co-director of NEUBAU, said: ‘this project is the result of an intense collaboration with a highly-motivated team and a visionary client, whose dedication to a design-focused approach made possible much that this industry usually sacrifices in the name of profit – it presents an exciting opportunity for a landmark site to be developed to its full potential, and we are keen to take things forward.”

Alexander Giarlis, co-director, adds: “the design of this project was a journey across many boundaries and in search for a language that could overcome the neighborhood’s historically pastiche architecture on a landmark designated site – to add a clock atop a residential building was integral to the scheme, and aims to preserve a significant local memory of the service station’s old clock tower.”

The project is planned for completion in 2019.