Hambrook House

As the Hambrook House site sits at the front of Brixton town centre, it also lies within the Brixton Conservation Area, as designated by the council. It was because of this heritage context that additional care had to be taken to ensure the building’s height and facade did not dominate the skyline, or compete for prominence with the historic nearby towers of Lambeth Town Hall and St Matthews Church. In response, Cartwright Pickard created a simple and refined architectural frontage that complements the adjacent buildings in the regeneration scheme, while avoiding a continuous block of colour with little definition or interest for the eye.

To match the adjacent civic building, reconstituted cast stone banding, from Vobster Architectural, was utilised across the 14-storey tower at tri-level intervals and as soffits beneath each edge apartment balcony. To further break up the facade, and distinguish the towers from the commercial development, the architects selected contrasting brickwork for Hambrook House’s three residential blocks. Using a classic red brick and a timeless grey multi provides a varied appearance that separates each element, while concluding in an understated fascia that does not overwhelm the delicate structures featured within the Conservation Area.

Taylor Maxwell worked in partnership with Cartwright Pickard Architects and Galliford Try to specify and supply grey multi facing bricks to the Hambrook House facade. After reviewing multiple brick samples with the Taylor Maxwell team, the grey multi was chosen for its clean appearance and how effortlessly it blends with the 14-storey tower’s cast stone features.

The project brief was to enhance the centre of Brixton's history, while providing exemplar modern facilities for the local community. Cartwright Pickard, Galliford Try and the development team undoubtedly met these aims, while also delivering new spaces that have delighted visitors and been enthusiastically welcomed by Councillors, staff and the public.

The overall scheme is an important addition to the central Brixton location, which successfully provides for the existing local community while also attracting people looking to move into the area.