Spring Mews
Spring Mews
Location
Vauxhall, Lambeth
Client
CLS Holdings
Dates
Commenced 2010
Planning Approved 2012
Sector(s)
Student Accomodation
Scope
Architecture, Master planning
Status
Completed
A mixed use regeneration development in a Conservation Area within London, which brings an underutlised site back into beneficial use with sympathetic architectural treatment and scale, reflecting the area’s post industrial artisan heritage.
PRC prepared a masterplan with the principal use as a student residential campus, providing 399 student bedrooms with ancillary common / TV rooms / leisure / study facilities together with support services.
The student housing building is formed in a ‘U’ shape that contains a first floor roof terrace at its centre. Each facade of the ‘U’ is designed with a similar elevational language, adopting a varied arrangement of windows and spandrel panels.
The masterplan also includes a 120-bed hotel and a new community centre, retail and business units.
A new Mews created through the site was at the heart of the design process to improve the public realm and provide greater connectivity / permeability. The new street aimed to create an urban route with active frontages to both sides from the hotel, community centre & cafe and retail and business units. The combined effect of the proposed uses provides a vibrant 24/7 environment, creating better local facilities, a more attractive environment and greater neighbourhood security and surveillance.
In addition, discussions took place with neighbouring landowners, existing tenants and residents, together with a public exhibition. All consultation was undertaken prior to the planning submission and helped inform the design. A detailed Design Statement was produced to explain the evolution and rationale behind how the building and environment would be inclusive, practical and attractive once built.
Initial concept sketch
View through the new Mews
The proposal aimed to achieve a BREEAM rating of Very Good and through a series of energy efficiency measures the development would provide a CO2 reduction of approximately 32%.
As lead consultant PRC coordinated the design team and worked with the client’s aspirations to critically analyse the site and produce a set of design principles. A comprehensive programme of consultation was then undertaken with local and statutory authorities and the Greater London Authority.