Islington London N1

New flats and Doctors surgery

Brady Mallalieu Architects have received planning permission from Islington Council for the high density redevelopment of a brownfield site at Laycock Street Islington for the developer Foldgate Estates. Work has commenced on site and many of the flats have been sold off plans.

The scheme for 55 flats and 13 large houses achieves a density of 661 habitable rooms per hectare due to its location close to the Highbury underground station and the facilities of Upper Street, Islington. Parking is provided with an underground car park.

The elevations to all the blocks have been designed to provide individuality, variety and visual interest using a palette of quality materials – copper hardwood self coloured render and aluminium.

Also included in the scheme is a new 12 GP Doctors Surgery.

The affordable housing provision is on site and will be constructed for Community Housing Group and Bangla Housing Association

Completion date : Summer 2007

The development is planned around a central communal courtyard which provides access to the majority of the dwellings as well as recreation space and visual interest when viewed from above. The individual blocks vary from seven stories facing Laycock Street, matching the scale of adjacent buildings, to four stories to the south and west. The front block is planned with scissors flats to give all flats southern aspect.

The structural frame – clad in self coloured render provides an underlying and unifying rhythm and this is overlaid with layers of glazing and timber or copper insulated panels. The arrangement of solid a nd void expresses the interior spaces on th e elevations. For instance double height living spaces have tall glazed panels and bedroom spaces have larger solid panels to protect privacy. The different materials are overlaid in varying depths across the facades giving depth and modelling with further movement provided by recessed and projecting balconies.