Commercial Way, London
Commercial Way, London
Overview
Commercial Way is a carefully considered development in Peckham forming part of the London Borough of Southwark’s ‘New Council Homes’ Direct Delivery Programme. This programme aims to deliver 11,000 new homes by 2043. Commercial Way provides 109 of these new homes split across two sites: Ridgeway House to the east and George Williams House to the west. Of these residences, 35 are available for shared ownership and 73 for social rent.
Weston Williamson & Partners (WW+P) designed this housing scheme for Southwark Council and Durkan Ltd, combining modernity and practicality to create two stunning and cohesive sites. Vobster Architectural were thrilled to manufacture and supply wet cast Portland stone to pair with a buff facing brick supplied by Taylor Maxwell.
The British Homes Awards shortlisted Commercial Way under the ‘Affordable Housing’ category, recognising the success of the development in enriching the residential offering in Peckham.
Concept and Completion
The new homes comprise of one to four-bedroom units, including eight wheelchair-adapted homes that benefit from ten parking spaces to aid accessibility. The ground floor features a series of private front garden terraces and green areas that act as a buffer to the public pavement, allowing for landscaped ‘pockets’ of tranquillity reserved for the residents throughout the site.
The architects mindfully designed the new buildings to preserve the existing and surrounding architecture, seamlessly incorporating the current water storage for the area into the northern part of both sites as a feature in the private courtyards. The orientation of the buildings was carefully considered to prioritise space and comfort for the residents, ensuring all the homes are light and airy, with 85% having either dual or triple aspect windows.
The wet cast stone banding provides the perfect accent material, defining each level in a crisp white Portland colour to further enhance the clean and airy nature of the building’s design. The team at Taylor Maxwell worked with the architects to supply a complementary mixed buff brick, which connects the colour palette of the cast stone and metal balcony elements for a harmonious finish.
The facade features horizontal cast stone banding and vertical brick piers, allowing for light and shadow to play across the building, creating striking visuals and allowing a flow of air and space through the enclosed private balconies.
Sustainability
The architects integrated Southwark’s Design Standards and the GLA London Housing Design Guide into the scheme for a fully environmentally conscious construction. The use of solar panels on the site helped to meet these standards, as did the use of wet cast stone, which supports sustainable construction practices. Well known for its longevity and low-maintenance credentials, cast stone provides a reliable and lasting addition to any facade.
Vobster Architectural were proud to be part of a site that provides affordable housing that doesn’t compromise on quality of materials or visual impact.
Project partners
