Odessa Wharf
London is Europe’s most popular destination, and this conversion of a 19th century warehouse for a Danish developer allows numerous Scandinavian families to join the visitors. Set in the Docklands, its 14 apartments are let on timeshare tenures. To retain the character of the original building, we kept the original window openings, but added the “cowls” which lend the building a distinctive roofline and clearly mark the new interventions which replace 1970s conversions.
These cowls are the heart of the design concept, which adapts the qualities of the original building to modern residential needs. They ensure that each unit has a river view, and add a variety of light, services and spaces to the living rooms which is unusual in loft-type apartments. Overall the development shows how an existing inner-city building might be converted to high quality and high-density residential use, where permanent inhabitants or short-term visitors can equally enjoy the attractions of urban life.
It is one of very few schemes to have won a National Housing Design Award – run by the RIBA, RTPI,DETR and NHBC – both at the project stage and after completion.
press:
Civic Trust Awards December 2002; Best of British Homes December 2000; RIBA Journal August 2000; Building Design July 2000; Architects Journal July 2000; Building Design March 2000; Southern Housing November 1999; Southern Housing November 1999;