110WalmLane Design Statement

110, Walm Lane, Willesden GreenDesign Statement


August 2012


Contents

1.0 Introduction1.1 Foreword1.2 Outline of Proposed Development1.3 Aerial Photograph of site

2.0 Design Development and Principles2.1 Design Principles2.2 Design Development2.3 Materials

3.0 Design Proposal / Concept3.1 Plans3.2 Elevations3.3 Elevation Detail Studies3.4 Site Plan3.5 Panoramic View (from north)3.6 Panoramic View (from station)3.7 View from Bridge (south)3.8 View from Station (dusk)


1.0 Introduction


1.1 Foreword

The scheme presented as part of this planning application has evolved over the course of the last year in close liaison with officers at the London Borough of Brent and other interested parties and follows a detailed assessment of the site context (as set out in the accompanying Design + Access Statement (Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners) and Townscape & Heritage Appraisal (Montagu Evans).

Occupying the south-western corner of the Mapesbury Conservation Area, the site of 110 Walm Lane sits alongside the Metropolitan and Jubilee line and diagonally opposite from the Willesden Green underground station.

The site houses a large Edwardian ‘Arts and Crafts’ former Doctor’s surgery dating from 1896, which operated as a Conservative Club since the early 20th century until its closure in recent years. Part of the ground floor is currently let as a restaurant/public house.

The site was acquired by Fairview New Homes in January 2012 and provides the potential for an outstanding new residential building on this pivotal site.


1.2 Outline of Proposed Development

The brief for the redevelopment of 110 Walm Lane offers a unique opportunity to create a minor landmark at this strategic part of Willesden Green, that would complete a key urban ‘node’ around the station.

The proposal delivers a residential scheme with a mixed tenure providing much needed sustainable new housing.

Key issues are:

The provision of a building that will enhance the •character of the area.Provision of high quality architecture worthy of its location •on the edge of the Mapesbury Conservation AreaCreation of high quality public space onto Walm Lane.•High quality and indigenous materials to building and •landscape.Provision of a high proportion of dual aspect residential •units.Careful consideration given to the aspect of living spaces •and their relationship to observation (street) and privacy (courtyard).Varied mix of dwelling types including duplex, wheelchair •accessible and a range of 1– 3 bed units.Creation of ‘front door’ apartments, utilising multi-•core access reinforcing the sense of ownership and responsibility.Provision of on-site CHP (combined heat and power).•Provision of on-site power generation from PV (photo-•voltaic) installation.Provision of Lifetime Homes.•

The site provides a unique opportunity to create a minor landmark

building around the station.


1.3 Aerial Photograph of Site


2.0 Design Development and Principles


2.1 Design Principles

In proposing a new building on this prominent site sandwiched between two conservation areas and a Grade II listed underground station, the starting point has to be the question of an appropriate response. Too often in the recent past, architects and planners resorted to pastiche rather than a confident expression of their time and this has led to many poorly conceived buildings. Buildings we all admire all have one thing in common – they were all true to their time, and this is why they become listed as part of our heritage. St Paul’s cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Festival Hall were all new expressions that created confident contemporary buildings that were challenging in their day, but soon became cherished.

Pastiche, in contrast, is a concoction from past styles and adds nothing to our heritage, imitating rather than respecting the past and in doing so, it devalues both past and the future. The popular philosopher Alain De Botton describes pastiche as, ‘an unconvincing reproduction of the styles of the past’, so the challenge on this site is to create a convincing architectural response that while contemporary, finds a way to respect and refer to the past without recourse to pastiche. The architectural ambition is to echo not mimic, complement not contradict the existing built context, while making a new landmark building on this site.

The best architecture today asserts a contemporary expression grafted on to the site specifics and context, both historic and cultural. On Walm Lane, the presence of both the railway and a strong Edwardian fabric provides a fertile ground for the proposal to grow from.

110 Walm Lane is a typical Edwardian ‘Arts and Crafts’ building in brick, tile and pitched roofs. Curiously, it is not of a domestic scale, but inflated and so appears somewhere between a small civic building and a very large house – this was exacerbated in 1910 when it was extended and converted into a Conservative Club. What the building does do however, is form part of a group of larger buildings that cluster around the railway which arrived in 1879 and was the catalyst for the development of the now much loved residential districts and commercial ‘high street’.

Creating a direct relationship between the station and the new building

The site is set between an Edwardian red brick residential district and Willesden Green station

NORTH


The jewel in the crown here is the Grade II listed Willesden Green underground station, built in 1925 by the Metroplitan Railway Company under the architect C W Clark and stands alone and while only two-stories high, attracts attention by its use of distinctive, glazed cream coloured terracotta (faience) facades.

The station sits at the highest point of the neighbourhood and along with 110 Walm Lane, the double height curved glass shopfronts on the corner of Station Parade and the recent seven-storey block on the opposite side of the railway, forms something of an urban hub, a celebration of the railway. This is a very apt location for a modest landmark building.

The site, while at the very south-west tip of the Mapesbury Conservation Area, sits slightly apart from it, with a run of post-war buildings running north along Walm Lane and perhaps associates itself more in reality to the railway – the catalyst for the whole area. It has a reciprocal relationship with the station being directly opposite the northernmost exit and will complete a small urban cluster around the station and bridge.

The ambition is therefore to create a real piece of architecture here, true to its time while rooted in the history and context to act as a minor landmark for Willesden.

The massing of the proposal is fairly straightforward – a lower element that forms a ‘datum’ in red brick and a central, taller element that addresses the station expressed as a small ‘tower’. The lower parts are designed to reflect the context and so are built in ‘Mapesbury’ red brick, expressed as ‘framed’ rather than ‘walled’ facades, containing balconies and an inner layer of windows and dark panels that appear at high level as a dark zinc attic storey. This slightly neutral architectural expression provides a background for the tower element without attempting to compete with it for attention.

The tower is therefore conceived as architecturally distinct from the lower background buildings and is carefully proportioned to have elegance and simplicity. It is given richness by the use of a slender and carefully detailed framed balcony screen that forms a frontage that is then angled to directly address the station. The tower itself is proposed in a warm red terracotta cladding.

Early concept sketch illustrating the idea of a strong, clear central ‘tower’ set within a datum of lower brick base

2.1 Design Principles


The massing of the proposal was tested in a series of conceptual 3D models, as illustrated. The lower parts are designed to reflect the context and so are built in red brick, expressed as brick framed facades, containing balconies and an inner layer of windows and dark panels that appear at high level as a dark zinc attic storey. This slightly neutral architectural expression provides a background for the tower element without attempting to compete with it for attention.

The tower is therefore conceived as architecturally distinct from the lower background buildings and is carefully proportioned to have elegance and simplicity. It is given richness by the use of a slender and carefully detailed framed balcony screen forming a frontage that is angled to directly address the station and part faced with terracotta louvres forming a ‘sail’. The tower itself is faced in a warm ruby red terracotta cladding, a material that subtly picks up on the use of this material within the Mapesbury residential area as well as making a more direct connection to the materiality of the station but without imitation, for the warm red colour contrasts the use of cream terracotta used on the station.

This is further enhanced by a variation at high level to narrower terracotta panels that ‘feather’ the building towards its apex.

Key to the success of the design will be attention to detail and the use of precise, machine-made natural materials such as brick, zinc and terracotta that will lend a precision and weather gracefully.

2.2 Design Development


The design proposed not only provides much needed new housing in a highly sustainable location, but also offers the opportunity to bring a high quality piece of architecture – a minor landmark – to this important site and with its feet in history, rises up to be a confident expression of both the past, and the future.

The question of height has been tested and while a tower up to 12 storeys has been considered, a 10 storey tower has proved to provide the most pleasing solution. A shorter tower would lack the proportional elegance ( a width to height ration of a minimum of 1:5 defines the term ‘tower’)



At street level the proposal exploits the small angled group of shop units (in others’s ownership) that sit against the bridge and by introducing a second angled wall on the opposite side shielding ground floor residential gardens, forms a new, small urban space. The vision is to create a dynamic approach to the main entrance.

This triangular public space has a central triangular raised planter, edged in Corten steel, that also acts as a transition between the falling land, so steps occupy one side while the pavement ramps down to the other.

With a new specimen tree and climbing plants against the new stone-faced wall, together with a large framed view into a planted garden at ground level, we aim to put the ‘green’ back into Willesden Green to create a friendly public realm.


The view left, shows our vision for the new public space and imagines the three retail units (not within the application) refurbished to bring new life to this minor urban space


From the outset, the design has been tested using CAD models set within the context to test the scale and massing. This has allowed an exploration of scale within the setting to arrive at a suitable scale for the building

A view testing the massing looking south (from Walm Lane approaching from the Mapesbury Conservation Area)


The view above is looking north along Walm LaneThe view above is from the bridge east of Walm Lane over the railway


2.3 Materials

Willesden Green is a red brick, Edwardian suburb yet the location for this proposal is somewhat dominated by the cream terracotta-clad underground station building.

Our concept creates a ‘datum’ of brick buildings that form a base to the prominent taller corner – we propose storey height terracotta panels, that become a finer (grooved) texture to the upper two floors as if dissolving into the sky. Terracotta louvres (or ‘baguettes’) form a diaphanous screen, or ‘sail’ on the balcony framework that fronts onto Walm Lane, which in turn, is conceived as a ‘bolted-on’, elegant steel balcony screen with sophisticated glazed balconies.

Attic storeys are proposed in a dark grey zinc cladding to pick up on local slate and metal roofs of the locality. This material is also used as infill panels to glazed apertures within the brick facades. Encapsulated timber panels are provided as infill units to some locations to add variety within a limited palette.

The ground floor entrance area is given prominence by the use of a reconstituted stone wall, which forms a backdrop to a minor public space, complete with a Corten planter.

Terracotta panels clad the ‘tower’ element

Glass balconies to the tower frontage

Terracotta ‘baguettes’ (louvres) form the ‘sail’ to the front of the tower

Lower buildings in a ‘Mapesbury’ red brick

Zinc faced attic storey cladding

Reconstituted stone panels face theentrance wall

‘Copper’ encapsulated timber veneer rainscreen cladding panels

Terracotta panels

Zinc faced attic storey cladding


3.0 Design Proposals


3.1 Design Proposal – Plans

WAL

M L

ANE

RAILWAY

B

BINS

B

B

VEN

T

83m2 B

BB

B

B

B

B

BB

B

B

B

BB

B

B

B

B

T

SITE PLAN + GROUND FLOOR

BASEMENT LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 4

B

LEVELS 8+9 - DUPLEX

B

LEVELS 6+7

B

BB

B

B

B

B

BB B

B

BB

B

B

B BBBB

B

LEVEL 1

B

T

GREEN ROOF

TT

T

T

T

LEVEL 5

The scheme provides a total of 56 high quality residential units, including a mix of both private and affordable.

The scheme includes a mix of one, two and three bedroom units spread throughout the development. The unit mix can be broken down as follows:

1 Bed – 34%•2 Bed – 46%•3 Bed – 20%•

A total of 23 parking spaces (including 3 No disabled bays) are provided at basement level within a secure car park area.


3.2 Design Proposal – Elevations

Key

cad f ile:

This drawing, the work of architecture to which it relates, and any notes relating to them are protected by copyright. To the extent that this is a design document it is, in addition, protected by design right. All rights in them are reserved. They are provided for your information about the application only. No part of them or any design to which they relate may be reproduced in any form or any means without the prior written permission of Fairview New Homes Limited, except as expressly permitted by law. The doing of any unauthorised act in relation to them may result in both a civil claim and criminal prosecution.

drawing:

project:

drawing no:

scale @ A1: date:

status:

revision:

WEST & EAST ELEVATIONS

1201-400 P1

PLANNING

1:200 AUGUST 2012

rev date initials description

1 Bed Apartments

3 Bed 5P Apartments

© john pardey architects

2 Bed 4P Apartments

jpaj o h n p a r d e y a r c h i t e c t sB e c k F a r m S t u d i o S t L e o n a r d s R o a dEast End Lymington Hampshire SO41 5SRwww.johnpardeyarchitects.com 01590 626465

2 Bed 3P Apartments

3 Bed 4P Apartments

110 WALM LANE, MAPESBURY

1 Bed Apartments - Wheelchair

2 Bed 4P Apartments - Wheelchair



Existing Tree - Retained

Existing Tree - Removed

Proposed Tree

MATERIAL SCHEDULE

1 Brick:Red Stock

2 Terracotta Cladding

3 Terracotta Louvres

4 Spandrel Panels:Timber ply composite cladding(parklex/Prodema or similar)

5 Spandrel Panels:Rockpanel Cladding or similar -RAL 7012z

6 Cladding Panels:Rockpanel cladding or similar - RAL 7035

7 Metal Cladding:Kalzip, Reynobond or similar

8 Windows:Grey - RAL 7012

9 Balconies to Walm Lane tower:Glass balustradeGrey Fascia - RAL 7012White soff it board

10 Balconies:Grey metal balustrade - RAL 7012Grey Fascia - RAL 7012White soff it board

11 Stone Entrance Screen:Reconstituted stone - Portland(JP Naylor or similar)

5m 10 20

1201-400-01 EAST ELEVATION

1201-400-02 WEST ELEVATION

GROUND

LEVEL 01

LEVEL 02

LEVEL 03

LEVEL 04

LEVEL 05

LEVEL 06

LEVEL 07

LEVEL 08

LEVEL 09

ROOF

GROUND

LEVEL 01

LEVEL 02

LEVEL 03

LEVEL 04

LEVEL 05

LEVEL 06

LEVEL 07

LEVEL 08

LEVEL 09

ROOF

2

2

4

1

7

10

710

6

93

4

11

7

1

4

10


3.2 Design Proposal – Elevations

Key

cad f ile:


drawing:

project:

drawing no:

scale @ A1: date:

status:

revision:

SOUTH & NORTH ELEVATIONS

1201-401 P1

PLANNING

1:200 AUGUST 2012


1 Bed Apartments

3 Bed 5P Apartments


2 Bed 4P Apartments


2 Bed 3P Apartments

3 Bed 4P Apartments








Proposed Tree

5m 10 20

MATERIAL SCHEDULE

1 Brick:Red Stock

2 Terracotta Cladding

3 Terracotta Louvres

4 Spandrel Panels:Timber ply composite cladding(parklex/Prodema or similar)

5 Spandrel Panels:Rockpanel Cladding or similar -RAL 7012z

6 Cladding Panels:Rockpanel cladding or similar - RAL 7035

7 Metal Cladding:Kalzip, Reynobond or similar

8 Windows:Grey - RAL 7012

9 Balconies to Walm Lane tower:Glass balustradeGrey Fascia - RAL 7012White soff it board

10 Balconies:Grey metal balustrade - RAL 7012Grey Fascia - RAL 7012White soff it board

11 Stone Entrance Screen:Reconstituted stone - Portland(JP Naylor or similar)

PROFILE OF WESTLEY COURT

GROUND

LEVEL 01

LEVEL 02

LEVEL 03

LEVEL 04

LEVEL 05

LEVEL 06

LEVEL 07

LEVEL 08

LEVEL 09

ROOF

GROUND

LEVEL 01

LEVEL 02

LEVEL 03

LEVEL 04

LEVEL 05

LEVEL 06

LEVEL 07

LEVEL 08

LEVEL 09

ROOF

1201-401-01 NORTH ELEVATION

1201-401-02 SOUTH ELEVATION

3 2

2

1

7 6 7

104

5

11

6

1

4

5

10

2

2 9 3


3.3 Design Proposal – Elevation Detail Studies

Delivering a high quality landmark building on this site depends a great deal on the quality of materials and detailing, so the application has paid great attention to these aspects and are documented in a series of key ‘bay’ studies – this sheet illustrates the tower element.

Key

cad f ile:


drawing:

project:

drawing no:

scale @ A1: date:

status:

revision:

DETAILS

1201-601 P1

PLANNING

1:50 AUGUST 2012


1 Bed Apartments

3 Bed 5P Apartments


2 Bed 4P Apartments


2 Bed 3P Apartments

3 Bed 4P Apartments








Proposed Tree

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

1201-601-2 STREET BALCONIES & BRISE SOLEIL

1:50 ELEVATION

METAL SHELF ANGLEGREY - RAL 7012

WINDOWSGREY - RAL 7012

HANDRAILSTAINLESS STEEL

BRISE-SOLEILTERRACOTTA BAGUETTES

ALIVA GRESCOVERINGCOLOUR - GC012

IN GREY METAL FRAME

BALCONYOPEN TIMBER DECKING

BALUSTRADEGLASS

TOWER BALCONY - EVENING VISUALISATION

TOWER - VISUALISATION FROM STATION

TERRACOTTA LOUVRES

TOWER BALCONIES - EVENING VISUALISATION

TERRACOTTA RAINSCREEN CLADDING

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

1201-601-1 RECESSED BALCONIES

1:50 ELEVATIONALUMINIUM COPING

GREY - RAL 7012

RAINSCREEN CLADDINGREYNOBOND 'QUARTZ ZINC'

BALCONYOPEN TIMBER DECKING


BALUSTRADEMETAL - GREY - RAL 7012

ALUMINIUM COPINGGREY - RAL 7012

BRICKRED STOCK


3.3 Design Proposal – Elevation Detail Studies

Key

cad f ile:


drawing:

project:

drawing no:

scale @ A1: date:

status:

revision:

DETAILS

1201-600 P1

PLANNING

1:50 AUGUST 2012


1 Bed Apartments

3 Bed 5P Apartments


2 Bed 4P Apartments


2 Bed 3P Apartments

3 Bed 4P Apartments








Proposed Tree

1:50 ELEVATION

1201-600-2 TIMBER-VENEER RAINSCREEN-CLAD ATTIC STOREY

AXONOMETRIC VIEW


ALUMINIUM FASCIAGREY - RAL 7012

RAINSCREEN CLADDINGPARKLEX TIMBER VENEER

FACADE CLADDING 'COPPER'



SILLGREY METAL - RAL 7012

BRICKRED STOCK

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

1201-600-3 QUARTZ-ZINC ATTIC STOREY

1:50 ELEVATION



WINDOWS200MM DEEP REVEALS TO 'PUBLIC' ELEVATIONS

GREY - RAL 7012

BALUSTRADEMETAL - GREY - RAL 7012

BRICKRED STOCK

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

1201-600-1 TERRACOTTA RAINSCREEN CLADDING

1:50 ELEVATION

ALUMINIUM FASCIAGREY - RAL 7012

RAINSCREEN CLADDINGTERRACOTTA - ALIVA GRESCOVERING

COLOUR - GC012BETWEEN GREY METAL SHELF ANGLES

SPANDRELGREY - RAL 7012



RED STOCK BRICK QUARTZ ZINC


PARKLEX 'COPPER' TIMBER VENEER CLADDINGDEEP WINDOW REVEALS

BALCONYALUMINIUM FASCIA - GREY - RAL 7012

OPEN TIMBER DECKING


3.4 Design Proposal – Site Plan

Key

cad file:

This drawing, the work of architecture to which itrelates, and any notes relating to them are protected by copyright. To the extent that this is a design document it is, in addition, protected by design right. All rights in them are reserved. They are provided for your information about the application only. No part of them or any design to which they relate may be reproduced in any form or any means without the prior written permission of Fairview New Homes Limited, except as expressly permitted by law. The doing of any unauthorised act in relation to them may result in both a civil claim and criminal prosecution.

drawing:

project:

drawing no:

scale @ A1: date:

status:

revision:

ROOF PLAN AND AERIAL CONTEXT

1201-110 P1

PLANNING

1:1250 AUGUST 2012


1 Bed Apartments

3 Bed 5P Apartments


2 Bed 4P Apartments


2 Bed 3P Apartments

3 Bed 4P Apartments








Proposed Tree

500 100 200m

N


3.5 Design Proposal – Indicative Panoramic View (from north)


3.6 Design Proposal – Indicative Panoramic View (from station)


3.7 Design Proposal – Indicative View from Bridge (south)


3.8 Design Proposal – Concept View from Station (at dusk)

110WalmLane Design Statement

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