Coach Yard

Creative urban development cluster

Our proposal seeks to reinvigorate an abandoned brownfield site with five sustainably designed new homes, and one refurbishment

Coach Yard More

What We Propose

After the demolition of the factory that originally occupied the site, this plot remained neglected for two decades, with its tights dimensions and awkward shape deterring potential developers. Through creative ingenuity, we have found a way to make the most of this site, taking it from derelict and deteriorated, to a small cluster of exciting and modern homes.

Originally, in Phase 1, our London Architects sought to create through sustainable design, three dwellings on the site and gained approval in 2018. However, we knew this unusually-shaped site had the potential to play a much larger role in providing essential residential space in our capital city. With this in mind, we encouraged the client to follow our guidance and put forward this much more ambitious proposal with their full support.

The proposal now uses a vacant yard and tired extended neighbouring building as an opportunity to realise five eye-catching and innovative modern building designs within a leafy East London neighbourhood.

We will reinstate some of the original factory-style features, and retain an entrance that from the street appears to lead into an industrial building. Through a material palette inspired by the site’s industrial heritage – including restoring the original brick walls to their original state, black steel corrugated cladding, contrasting Thermowood timber cladding and dark grey crittall style aluminium windows  – the site’s history is honoured and incorporated into its future with our ‘green’ architecture.

Another project in which we’ve honoured the heritage of a redeveloped commercial site is Coborn House.

 

  • Location
    Leyton, East London
  • Size
    50+ square metres per unit
  • Status
    On Site - Feb 2020
  • Cost
    Undisclosed

The external wall and the factory floor have been repurposed to reduce our carbon footprint, along with the installation of air source heat pumps, PV arrays, and green roofs. In fact, through this development, the plot’s biodiversity will increase by 197%, and we have achieved 62% reduction of carbon emissions site-wide, far above the minimum 35% target for London.

This project will create three one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom upside-down Mews properties. The bespoke dwellings will principally be single-storey, with first floor levels cleverly set back to prevent overlooking. These homes have also been strategically positioned to minimise their impact on neighbours. The new dwellings incorporate crittall style floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights to let in ample daylight, and provide views of the home’s private terraces. The terraces have been increased through innovative use of cantilevering to minimise the ground floor footprint, yet maximise both outlook and internal space.

The Yard successfully complements the surrounding period properties, integrating a sense of distinct modernity, without being a pastiche and without the impersonality of a modern white box. As a result, the scheme exudes an attractive contemporary aesthetic that is informed by the architecture of the original factory.

Currently on site with expected completion 2024.

 

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The Yard Design Features

  • Materials palette a nod to the site’s factory heritage, such as black corrugated steel cladding and dark grey crittall style aluminium windows
  • The original factory walls and floor slabs have been retained –  reducing the development’s carbon footprint
  • Sustainable design throughout; including air source heat pumps, PV arrays and green roofs
  • Skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows
  • Unique building forms

The Former Yard

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