Kennington Road was an ambitious and challenging project in terms of both planning and the fact that the structure to be converted was already in use and adjacent to a Grade II* listed building.
The creation of 14 new flats over 1800 sq.m. of existing solicitors’ offices involved extensive negotiations with English Heritage and led to enveloping the existing building with the new units to the side and above as there was available land.
Wood was chosen as the material of choice in order to minimize the carbon footprint of the building. A plate and post system, assembled in a controlled environment and sent to site in prefabricated sections, assured quality and expedited construction time.
A second skin, a green layer formed of large planters, trellises and planted roof areas, encases the building, creating a unified aspect to the layered structure and creates its own micro-climate aimed at reducing the urban heat island effect while also increasing biodiversity and energy conservation.