Historically Union Wharf has maintained a space that runs from Kingsland Road (A10 running north from the City) (albeit not ‘public’), which had provided this visual link. Recent developments on the east side of Kingsland Basin offer no public access to it, or indeed any visual link from Kingsland Road.

Our mixed-use scheme for Union Wharf builds on the historic morphology forging a new and stronger link between Road and Basin. It will provide 56 apartments, shops, restaurants and B1 commercial office space around an enfilade of new public spaces which step down to the Basin. The scheme is modelled on the Uffizi in Florence which adjoins the River Arno. The main public space running east to west from Road to Basin is bisected by a block of apartments forming in effect two piazzas, and framing a view of the Basin from the Road and visa versa. Colonnades lining the Basin piazza on both the north and south sides frame mezzanined commercial spaces. Small detached towers are located diagonally at opposing ends of the new public space. From the air the new blocks form an S framing a communal private garden at first floor level between the piazza and the north edge of the site.

The massing of the scheme takes its cue from the surrounding historic wharfs and new developments. Construction and materials have not been fully considered at this stage, but as a strategy we are interested in pursuing a form of construction that alludes to the history of the wharfs. Solid timber construction offers procurement and quality advantages. It is sustainable; it reduces site time considerably and can be exposed to form an attractive finished surface which because of its ability to ‘breath’ contributes to a healthy living environment.