Brent Cross Town: Plot 25.

In North London, the Brent Cross Town masterplan is transforming a former industrial zone into a 180-acre, parkland community of 6,700 homes, with 25,000 new jobs, and numerous professional sports facilities. Plot 25 is designed by Glenn Howells Architects, and forms one of the first, pioneering new buildings on the site.

Location

London, United Kingdom

Client

Argent Related, Barnet Council

Architect

Allies and Morrison (masterplan) Glenn Howells Architects (P25)

Project Value

confidential

Span

21,700 m²

Status

in design

Expertise

Bioclimatic

The masterplan forms part of the extensive Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme, with a commitment for Brent Cross Town to be net-zero by 2030. Plot 25 sits just north of Brent Cross Town’s new high street, near to the new town square, and amidst some expansive, circulatory public realm.

AKT II’s bioclimatic team has supported Glenn Howells Architects with the development of some bespoke, architecturally integrated features for mitigating any potentially hazardous winds within the building’s pedestrian passageway. Our team’s design input has crucially allowed the passageway to remain both spatially and visually linear, for pedestrian safety and accessibility.

Plot 25 comprises three adjoined ‘blocks’ that range from nine to 22 storeys, providing roughly 660 student bedrooms, with some shared facilities and commercial spaces throughout the ground floor.

Our solution for the passageway involves some articulated, glazed panels, which now form part of the project’s exterior architectural aesthetic. The staggered positioning of the panels has been carefully optimised to preserve full accessibility, while also acceptably mitigating any excess wind energy. Most importantly, the glazing’s transparency maintains the required visual connectivity from one end of the passageway to the other.

To achieve this, we proposed and assessed 15 different mitigation options, to help arrive at the best possible balance of design performance. This process involved several different types of wind simulation and impact assessment. And we communicated all of the outcomes daily, as 3D and 2D design information, to the broader design team.