Markhouse Road

The site is located on Markhouse Road an important inner city route in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, east London. The development provides the opportunity to reconnect cycle, pedestrian and service access from Markhouse Road to existing residential streets to the east. The proposals consider two options. Option 1 proposes townhouses to the south offering front doors facing the main route through the site, with an apartment block to the north framing communal public space enroute. Option 2 considers paired apartment buildings the length of the site.

The urban grain - the figure ground image illustrates the lack of coherent street structure. Large public buildings dont allow active street frontage.

Creating new connections - the proposal extends the street from the east to Markhouse Road, creating a traditional permeable street structure.

Lining the edge - option 1 considers a terrace of family housing to the south of the site providing own front doors and private gardens.

Option 1 ground floor plan. A terrace of family housing lines the south of the site with an apartment building to the north accessed from the south of the block.

Option 1 view south along Markhouse Road - 5 storey apartment building with 3 story terrace to the south.

Option 1 view east - 5 storey apartment building with 3 story terrace lining the south of the site. The line of private front doors creates a traditional street leading east.

Option 1 first floor plan - apartment building with inset balconies facing east and west to maintain a formal relationship with the town houses to the south.

Option 1 view north - townhouses in the foreground with the taller appartment building to the north marking the new access route through the site.

Option 1 typical upper floor plan - the lower buildings to the south allow for increased daylight and sunlight to the upper floors of the apartment building to the north.

Maintain the green buffer - the site is lined with established London Plane trees along the roadside which the proposals retain.

Defining development plots - the new route through the site results in two development plots, with a larger plot to the north.

Lining the street - option 2 considers a north south block reinforcing the treeline and maximising east and west facing units.

Option 2 ground floor plan. Paired apartment buildings line the length of the site separated by an access road lined with apartment entrances, bikes and bins.

Option 2 view south along Markhouse Road - paired 5 storey apartment buildings line Markhouse Road.

Option 2 view east - paired apartment buildings with facing access cores. The narrower alley creates a more discrete route towards the communal landscape to the east.

Option 2 typical upper floor plan - apartment buildings with inset balconies facing Markhouse Road and external overlooking communal gardens.

Option 2 view north - the paired apartment buldings create a strong formal presence on Markhouse Road, set back behind the retained treeline.

Option 2 roof plan - the paired apartment buildings allow for increased communal landscape to the east and a clearly defined front and back to the development.