The TreeHouse

London is facing further expansion through population growth and urbanisation in the coming decades. With less land available to build on, one logical solution is to build upwards. However, our crucial human need for access to nature must be addressed by any successful plan for increased height and density, especially at a time when social distancing has become a normal part of life and our movements are restricted.

Our scheme responds to post-pandemic living. It will re-establish and enhance the site as a biodiverse, green destination within the city.  Our concept is to extend the green vertically to create the TreeHouse, a green landmark accent, a signifier of an amazing place to live.

Historically the site was a biodiverse habitat of marshy creeks and wetland terraces, much of which has been lost to what is now a hard urban environment. Our added ingredient to the masterplan framework would be to reintroduce a green biodiverse landscape and a new London park to create social value.

TreeHouse has 24 residential floors that are 24.5m x 24.5m square in plan with a central core. This creates a flexible and rational plan configuration. There is a total of 192 flats, the mix of these is in accordance with the Local Plan.

Wrapped around these floors area series of generous ‘green wetland terrace’ balconies. Their chamfered corners soften their appearance, and their staggered locations provide a range of single, double, and triple height terraces. They provide valuable biodiversity, shade, privacy and access to personal gardens in the sky.

A communal exercise and relaxation terrace is provided on the roof, enjoying panoramic views across the site and London. The central core is circular in plan at roof level to echo the gasometer and is clad in a green planter to add further to the biodiversity and concept.