Empire Square
Borough, London
An inner city warehouse site near Borough High Street has been transformed into a triangular mixed use block designed by award-winning architects Rolfe Judd and comprising three buildings which enclose a new public garden with a dramatically sculpted pavilion.
The scheme currently houses a supermarket, nursery and offices at ground level with private, affordable and serviced medium term rental apartments above.
At first floor level another communal garden adjoins the backyards of a nineteenth century terrace, and space for new ground floor uses has been provided along the Long Lane frontage.
A previously narrow and dangerous alley has been widened and rebuilt as affordable housing, with pedestrian routes along here and through the central garden from the junctions of the three enclosing buildings. Along the streets and enclosing the new public garden the general heights of the buildings - from five to nine storeys with some upper floors set back - reflect the predominantly five or six-storey surroundings, with a twenty-two-storey tower forming a new landmark.
Affordable and rental housing is carefully integrated with private dwellings, and all have identical finishes so that, externally, they are mainly indistinguishable.
Key information
Location
Borough, London
Region
Awards
Date completed
1 January 2007
