HIGH & SEEK.
Background.
This project seeks to address the issue of poor living conditions in a disengaged part of Barking and unsatisfactory housing developments that solve no issue other than density. I intend to address the issues by proposing to have a tower that increases density, offers better interior dwellings and outdoor spaces while giving back programmes to the community on the ground levels. The proposal seeks to incorporate a seamless indoor/outdoor housing strategy that benefits all residents especially during a post-pandemic world.
Community & Context.
The site is located in Barking, just south of Barking Town Hall, the high street and the station. The site itself is a 0.5 hectare at the north corner of the former Gascoigne Estate, a post-war housing estate which has been in a state of decline for several decades. The site will form the gateway to a new multi-phase regeneration masterplan developed by BeFirst Barking and Dagenham, the local authority’s housing provider. Beyond the Gascoigne Estate, Barking has been undergoing plans to be completely revamped as a new residential and commercial hub within London. It is also one of the sites within East London that has great potential to build upon. Previously, it was noted that the Mayor of London wanted to convert Barking into a new ‘Manhattan.’
The challenges of designing in this context from my perspective are trying to offer desirable housing to the future inhabitants of the new Barking. As such, the proposal will seek to provide key views towards Barking, East London and central London. While this is one of the key aims, the other is to provide a seamless indoor/outdoor living condition for each dwelling. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, everyone realised they took outdoor space for granted.
Brief & Users.
Programmatically, the proposal imagines a new narrative of inhabitation where local relocated Barking residents, students and city-workers can co-exist within the same development with shared access to all building facilities. For the wider public, the sports centre is the only one within the city therefore during hours after work, people can gather and play sports with one another without the need of travelling afar. Through the bringing together of these users in this programmatic narrative, it is imagined that the site will be converted into a new hub within Barking where people will all be bought together.
Ideas & Concept.
These ideas are resolved tectonically, through the use of a twisting tower that tapers to specific views. At an urban level, the massing of the building will rise above the surrounding neighbours to capitalise on views towards Barking and London, at a community/building level, it offers public programmes that encourage neighbouring residents to visit. At a dwelling level, each dwelling has access to their own private outdoor terrace. The tectonic ideas are developed
Practical Resolution.
Approaching from the north from the town and train station, the residents can reach the project via a long straight road. This is where the residential programme and the wider neighbourhood engage with each other while travelling to and from the site. On arrival, the first community amenity available is the sports centre to the right hand side and retail stores on the left. The ground is laid out in rows similar to the terraced houses in Barking. At the other end of the site is the residential lobby and the WeWork office lobby. There is also an densely packed forest-like space for people to immerse themselves in nature. On the first floor, there is a WeWork office that encourages co-working. Above are the residential apartments. The first twist consists of family duplex flats, these are aimed primarily towards local Barking residents. Above is a transition floor however, this space can also be seen as a sky garden. From this floor, residents living above the transition floor will need to change lifts into a new core that gives access to their flats.