Do-Overs: Urban Regeneration Projects

To Piercy Conner architects, a Brownfield site is a new opportunity for city expansion. Old, outdated or derelict buildings provide the impetus for developing modern, multi-functional developments. "We believe urban sustainability is as much to do with discovering new economically viable mixed-use relationships as it is about saving energy," said Stuart Piercy. "The future of urban architecture is about inventing new building types that respond to culture, demographics, technology and the changing patterns of our lives." London's Percival Street forms part of the Islington community's larger master plan where dense and difficult urban sites are explored to create opportunities for unique living spaces. Into this environment Piercy Conner interjected a development that replaced a two-storey community centre, which was demolished to make way for more housing.

The new building includes a new community centre on the ground floor and 20 residential units on the 1st to 6th floor, incorporating living and social interaction spaces in one cohesive environment. The building is designed to orient living spaces towards the sun and avoid overlooking other apartments. The perforated copper facade will age and pattern, gently filtering light through the glazed sliding screens of the apartments.

This same "Brownfield" philosophy was applied to an opportunity at the Brooks Road Estate, London. A prefabricated flexible ‘overcoat' was applied to existing structures to create 30 new loft apartments and extend existing homes to add bedrooms and living spaces. Acting as a framework, the modular overcoat provided a new focus on the street and a secure place to park, interact and play. Living spaces are re-oriented to the street and new diverse spaces created within the gently folded structure. The overcoat operates as an environmental buffer improving insulation, creating solar energy, collecting rainwater and reusing clean warm air.

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