'A significant uplift in architectural quality to Penfold Place'

Our client was unsure of the development potential, so we carried out a feasibility study to determine which outcome would best fit the street context as well as achieve a maximum return on investment.

We concluded that the best outcome would be a compact apartment building that completed the streetscape. However, the challenge was always to bring light deep within the urban plan. To overcome this, we created three light wells that illuminated the spaces.

We accommodated seven units on this enclosed site and inserted lightwells that illuminated the centre of the site and brought daylight to these areas. We also devised split-level apartments to distribute the units over the building volume.

The volumetric result was a stepped asymmetrical façade moulded into a sculptural form. We used brick as a facing material to give it texture and consistency for the building to be perceived as a whole. The sculptural quality has given the building a unique appearance while completing the streetscape's necessary functions.

Westminster City Council approved our design and have recognised the building as a 'strikingly modern architectural approach with boldly handled modelling'. They added that the building will contribute to 'a significant uplift in architectural quality to Penfold Place.' Our clients were delighted about the result, and we moved on to the project's next phase.

The use of virtual construction guided the building process. We maximised the apartment spaces by neatly mapping out all the services and structures within the void zones.

We were also able to calculate exact quantities from the model, which allowed us to make significant savings by ordering precise material quantities and plan for accurate labour requirements. Three-dimensional drawing references on an iPad enabled easy installation. The savings achieved allowed us to spend more on the quality of the tangible finishes.

All the apartments at No.1 Penfold Place sold quickly. They are inner-city apartments with a greater sense of space than their actual footprint due to living areas that wrap around and extend across open courtyards. The fit-out of every apartment had a solid neutral palette to receive individual decorative furnishings.