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Lancaster Grove

A new 5 storey, 15 unit residential block in Lancaster Grove that lies within the Belsize Park Conservation Area within the Borough of Camden for the developer Optic Realm.
The ambition was to create a new villa block that while true to its time, echoes and complements the adjoining mid-19th century paired villa blocks.

In form and massing to the street frontage, we did not seek to mimic the adjoining villa blocks, but rather create a building that fits comfortably within the streetscape, picking up on the local context, not just the immediate neighbours.

The development provides a mix of apartment sizes, all complying with the London Plan and LTH standards. replaced an existing building that had its facade blown off during the war and was used for many years by UCL for student accommodation.

The footprint is largely the same as the existing building, with a partial projection to the rear which aligns with the adjoining building to its west. The building is carefully scaled to align with the eaves of the adjoining villas, and with a matching slate roof pitched roof, along with projecting ‘party’ wall/ chimney structure.

Looking at the immediate context, the villas are remarkably consistent in their use of projecting porches, steps to front doors, projecting bays and ‘classically‘ proportioned window openings  Our design sought to reinterprete this language by the use of an asymmetric composition, with an off-centre entrance porch, double-height bay windows clad in a cream coloured composite stone cladding. The brick was a contemporary take on the London Stock brick.

Client OpticRealm Ltd.
Status Completed (2018)
Contract value £ undisclosed (self-build)
GIA m2 1,540 m2
Planning consultant Paul Carter Planning
Heritage consultant Turley
Structural engineer Lyons O’Neill
Landscape architect Studio Engleback
M&E consultant Syntegra
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