Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
Will Alsop’s practice aLL Design has submitted a
planning application for a 15 story residential tower in Vauxhall’s new ‘art district’.
The proposed scheme is a 1,735m² residential building
with a highly unusual silhouette. Branded ‘The Beacon’, its eye-catching
appearance will announce Newport Street on south London’s skyline, and the
building will contribute significantly to the on-going regeneration of this
fast changing area.
Newport Street is home to the celebrated Newport
Street Gallery, recently opened by Damien Hirst. The Beaconsfield gallery is
also a locally established gallery and both are bringing life to a previously
neglected part of south London. The area is fast becoming a creative hub with
the redevelopment of railway arches into shops and a contemporary music school.
Consequently, a key element of the brief was to maintain the momentum of
community development in Newport Street by making regeneration of the
building’s surrounding public realm a central aspect of the design.
The client for The Beacon is locally based
Newport Street Projects (NSP). NSP was formed with the sole purpose of redeveloping 17 Newport
Street and its surroundings, and is the brainchild of three people, each with a
personal attachment to the area.
NSP
commissioned Will Alsop and aLL Design to create an iconic building for the
emerging art district. Commenting on the project, the principle partners of
NSP, Nina and Paul Boyd, said “Will Alsop’s artistic flair and portfolio of
outstanding architectural achievements convinced us that aLL Design had the
ability to deliver a visionary scheme that would accelerate the transformation
of Newport Street and the surrounding area. aLL has a passion and track record
for regenerating communities in need which will be reflected in the end
result.”
aLL Design responded to NSP’s brief by designing a
visually extraordinary 15 storey residential tower with a narrowed footprint at
ground level which contributes to its unusual shape. The narrow footprint gives
back 38% of street-level space by providing 43m2 of external areas such as a
public seating area, landscaping with additional trees and permanent art
installations. In addition, existing pavements will be resurfaced, and new
pavements introduced where there is currently no pedestrian thoroughfare.
The ground floor lobby of The Beacon will serve as
both residents’ reception and exhibition space to display the work of local
artists. On the first floor, aLL Design will deliver an amenity space for
residents that includes a children’s play area.
The tall, slim apartment building comprises 12 flats,
each with private terraces and views over London. 11 of the flats occupy an
entire floor plate and the top floor’s duplex plan boasts a roof terrace and
two further private balconies.
All of the apartments will adhere to the Lifetime
Homes requirements with 10% including step-free wheelchair access.