Blackwall Reach

Location

London

Main contractor

Hill Group

Architects

BPTW Architects

Products

Cast Stone

Overview

The Blackwall Reach development is situated in a vibrant and exciting area of East London in Tower Hamlet and features three residential-led mixed-use buildings of mid to high rise design. The project was designed by BPTW Architects and developed by Hill Group for client Swan Housing Association.

Blackwall Reach is a £300 million regeneration project, replacing 252 homes with 1575 new homes, including 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments boasting sustainable living and impressive design. Besides providing new residential units, the scheme has also introduced new commercial premises, community facilities such as an extended school and a new mosque, beautiful open spaces and improved public realm across 20 acres and delivered over five phases. The development is ideally located, adjacent to Blackwall DLR Station, meaning that residents are minutes away from the West End, Canary Wharf and Stratford.

The plan involved the demolition of the dated Robin Hood Gardens which has been replaced by a collection of contemporary apartments. The project has also improved the public realm and access to public transport via linkages to the DLR. Of the 1575 new homes, half of them are affordable housing, with a mix of family homes and apartments.

The Blackwall Reach project is part of a much wider, local regeneration scheme in the heart of Blackwall, an area steeped in history with an exciting future ahead. Formerly a pioneering urban estate from the 60’s, the area will be entirely remodelled into contemporary apartments, many of which will benefit from stunning river or city views.

Following extensive design consultation with BPTW and Hill Group over a period of several months, Phase 1 of the Blackwall Reach project was supplied with both Wet Cast Stone and Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC).

GRC, manufactured by Chatsworth GRC and supplied by Taylor Maxwell, was the perfect choice for the Blackwall Reach project, as it brings a contemporary and luxury feel to the façade, whilst also being a cost-effective and environmentally friendly material choice.

GRC is an environmentally friendly construction material, not only because it is recyclable but as it is relatively low in weight, CO2 emissions during transportation are significantly reduced. It is versatile and can be moulded to fit many profiles, allowing for the creation of clean-cut lines to complex detailing, making it suitable for both contemporary and historic buildings. GRC is an A1 fire rated material and performs well under extreme weather conditions, making it a reliable and highly durable product. For these reasons, GRC is becoming an increasingly popular choice of construction material amongst architects and clients alike.

In keeping with the tones and textures of the neighbouring architecture, wet cast stone was also supplied for the lintels and window surrounds. Wet cast stone is a durable product that provides the look and feel of natural quarried stone, couple with the ability to create precise finishes and intricate detailing through the use of high-quality moulds.

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Taylor Maxwell, our distributor, has played a pivotal role in coordinating communications through the lengthy pre-order design stage of the project. They have proved to be an invaluable link between us and the installation contractor.

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Chatsworth GRC