Canada Water Plot K1.

The development of Plot K1 forms part of the first phase of British Land’s 53-acre Canada Water Masterplan in the London Borough of Southwark. The 5-storey building consists of 84 residential units of varying sizes, all arranged in a C-shaped configuration around a central courtyard that provides amenity space for residents.

Location

London, UK

Client

British Land

Architect

Morris + Company

Project Value

confidential

Status

completed 2023

Expertise

Façade Structures

LUL’s Jubilee line lies directly below the northern half of the site, running between Canada Water and Canary Wharf tube stations, with the twin tunnels at approximately 25 m below ground level. This has required a ground movement assessment to ensure any works and new loading from the building doesn’t affect the tunnels.

The proposed massing and the architectural layout of the building have led to the design of a very regular structure that has allowed the development of relatively simple structural options. By vertically aligning the apartments throughout the height of the building, structural efficiency has been enhanced and negates the need for transfer structures.

The client’s desire to achieve a simple, cost-effective structure, along with the architectural consistency of the apartment units’ typologies, drove the superstructure option studies to explore various types of construction beyond the standard forms seen widely across the industry before firming up the preferred option. This has ranged from traditional reinforced concrete designs to increasingly popular modular options such as cross-laminated timber.

The internal façade of the C-shaped building will include a walkway that forms the main horizontal circulation to each apartment. This element is designed as a slim steel structure on slender columns. The main elevations along Roberts Close feature steel ‘clip-on’ balconies.

The development also includes a separate single-storey structure to the south-west of the site that will house plant equipment, designed with a similar construction typology to the main building.