Transforming an underused urban brownfield site in Camberwell, South London, our Wyndham Road and Redcar Street proposals for Southwark Council create an infill development of 105 mixed-tenure homes, including Older Adults retirement housing and a Baptist Church.
The existing site comprises existing 1960-70s low-rise council homes, Carey Court retirement housing and Brandon Baptist Church, all in need of renewal to meet present day needs. Southwark Council’s brief sought to optimise the site, re-providing all existing homes and facilities to contemporary standards, each with a single move, alongside the delivery of new mixed-tenure and keyworker homes.
Engagement and collaboration with local residents and stakeholders were at the core of our design methodology, working closely together to develop a high-quality council-led project with support from each of the varied groups. Our approach sought to relocate residents and users sensitively across the site, minimising disruption across a phased construction plan.
The development comprises two main building types: well-proportioned mansion buildings repair and complete the site’s street frontage onto Wyndham Road and Redcar Street, and tucked behind, lower-rise family houses optimise the depth of the site whilst stepping sensitively in height in response to the Camberwell New Road conservation area.
To Wyndham Road to the north of the site, a six-storey mansion building addresses this busy road and secondary school, providing a mix of one to three bedroom, dual-aspect, mixed-tenure homes. A mews street of family houses to the south completes this residential courtyard, extending the existing Miah Close through the site.
Fronting onto the quieter Redcar Street to the east of the site, the new Carey Court fronts re-provide 32 older adults homes and communal facilities to contemporary space and accessibility standards, improving quality of life for residents. The building’s five-storey massing reduces to three-storeys towards the dedicated courtyard garden, enabling most residents to live across lower levels. In line with best practice HAPPI principles, gallery access layouts provide all residents with a relationship to the garden and provide greater opportunities for neighbourly interaction. All older adults’ homes are one-bedroom ‘plus’ with balconies, a significant enhancement from the existing cramped studio layouts. New homes and facilities are designed to promote comfort and wellbeing, including a communal lounge which opens directly onto the courtyard garden.
Brandon Baptist Church is re-provided to the corner of Redcar Street, providing a welcoming double height entrance and an active street frontage. A new church hall with sculpted roof opens onto a dedicated church garden. This new facility provides the church and congregants with purpose-built, flexible community spaces.