proctor and matthews/mecanoo to regenerate southeast london with vast masterplan

proctor and matthews/mecanoo to regenerate southeast london with vast masterplan
all images courtesy of mecanoo

proctor and matthews architects, working with dutch firm mecanoo, has revealed its proposal for the regeneration of thamesmead in south east london with housing association peabody. the new civic quarter would be the first phased of a vast masterplan that will contain 525 homes alongside community, retail and leisure facilities around a public square. in total, 1500 housing units will form a community that would include affordable homes, new jobs, and around 10,000 square meters of commercial, retail and leisure space — all of which will be at close travel distance to london.

the plan will deliver a coherent community with affordable homes and new jobs

the thamesmead site is based on a former marshland dating back to the 1970s. the plan provides an enlivened sequence of streets and squares to create an improved sense of place and introducing mixed-use programs will ultimately result in a diverse public realm. the resulting proposal focuses on four elements; the grouping of apartment buildings and terraced houses around raised shared courtyards to create smaller communities; neighborhood squares; pedestrianization; merging the wider context to form new connections with landscaping realized by turkington martin.

a new civic quarter will contain 525 homes, community, retail and leisure facilities

francine houben, creative director at mecanoo architecten, comments:  ’using our 30 years’ experience in creating pleasant urban neighborhoods, the plan for thamesmead that aims to reinstate a strong sense of community and introduces what thamesmead needs first of all: good public space that is accessible for all. a new spine is created; a route connecting abbey wood’s future crossrail station, southmere lake, the surrounding landscape, and the existing neighborhoods. the new buildings and squares that define the new route will give thamesmead the right human scale and identity.’

the development contains a range of dwelling sizes from 1 bedroom units to 4 bed townhouses

the new thamesmead civic quarter would occupy a large site on the edge of southmere lake. the new civic square will serve as the focal point for local residents and visitors, and restore community facilities to the area. a double height colonnade encloses the square on ground level, activating the plinth with shop frontages and building entrances. while each of the ensembles have their own distinctive character and style, they are tied together through a uniform articulation in building height and rhythm. the predominant material is brick, adding a warmer feel to the existing concrete buildings that are carefully integrated into the new scheme.

the building would wrap around a new civic square

the development contains a broad range of dwelling sizes from one bedroom units to four bedroom townhouses. the majority of apartments with private balconies are grouped around raised shared gardens and recessed ground level courtyards that form the green heart of each building ensemble.

the majority of apartments have dual aspect, with private balconies designed to maximize views and light