THE TANNERY

A bold mixed-use scheme comprising nearly 100 homes and an arts facility accommodated in a  ‘light bar’ held in a brick crust

FOR LONDON SQUARE

Aerial view of London city skyline with skyscrapers and residential buildings.

Once a centre for the tannery trade which defined Bermondsey in the 19th century, The Tannery at Rich Industrial Estate in London now comprises a community of new homes of mixed tenure, a hub for local and longstanding creative charities Tannery Arts/ Drawing Room and Southwark Studios, and individual artist studios.

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Revitalising a Brownfield: A Mixed-Use Masterplan for a Thriving Community

Our site sits within a wider 20,000 sqm, mixed-use masterplan for developer London Square by AHMM. Led by the creation of 400 new homes, the developer’s aim is to transform this previously neglected brownfield site into a vibrant and open community. Part new build, part retrofit, this complex plot now holds four separate buildings – Tannery Arts/Drawing Room, The Tannery new build, The Tannery warehouse, the café – and two courtyards.

A WELCOMING NEW ROUTE

The route into the site is given an active frontage by the exhibition and arts uses of the commercial space and display cases which line each side. This forms a welcoming new route and acts as a signifier of the creative uses in the development. The sawtooth roof profile over the exhibition and studio space make their function legible. The flats above mediate the scales of the terrace to Grange Road and the larger existing buildings in the site. The layering of shutters, balconies and glazing to these flats above create a translucent, shaded marker visible from Grange Road.

People walking in a modern urban courtyard with potted trees and contemporary buildings in the background.
A modern multi-story building with outdoor lighting, trees, and people walking and sitting on benches in a landscaped outdoor area during dusk.
Modern interior with black staircase winding around a central column, brick walls, and potted plants, with natural light from openings.

SHARED SPACE TO BE PROUD OF

The majority of the flats are accessed via a generously-scaled entrance lobby. The geometry of this space is derived from the grids of the commercial space fronting the new route and of the housing above. This space is a grand circulation space to be shared by the residents.

Interior view of a modern building with concrete walls, shadows cast by windows, and a staircase with black railings on the right side.

REASONED BY DAYLIGHT

The area to the north of the staircase space would have offered poor aspect and orientation for housing so this common use does not detract from the efficiency of the plan. Daylight comes in from the north and south, with open connection to external spaces. A dramatic stair links the basement through the lobby to the flats above.

From above view of a modern, spiral concrete staircase with wooden steps and metal railings, featuring a triangular central opening.
Modern multi-story residential building with brick and white panel exterior, large windows, balconies, and landscaped walkway.

THE LIGHT BAR

The focal point of the scheme is a long, cantilevered light bar filled dual aspect homes, sitting at a skew atop a rectangular brick base of additional homes. Encased in a white aluminium screen, the bar is both light in terms of brightness and weight. It is made up of perforated shutters that provide visual and visceral connections to light and air, allowing residents to manually open and shut them. Running north and south, the bar anchors the development to its context and creates social courtyards on both the eastern and western sides.

3D illustration of stairs leading up to a platform with a rectangular structure on each side.
Modern 4-story apartment building with brick and white panel facade, balconies with open metal railings, and a green courtyard with trees, benches, and a group of people.
Modern apartment building with lit balconies, glass panels, and potted plants.

AN ENLIVENED FAÇADE

The building will typically be seen with a continually changing pattern of open and closed shutters. This enriches and enlivens the façade with signs of habitation. The translucency, depth, and balance of light and shade contrasts with the solidity of the brick. The shutters add to the residents amenity by allowing them to control privacy as well as solar gain, while allowing fresh air and controlled sunlight through their perforated structure.

A black and white architectural drawing of a multi-story building with balconies and large windows.
A man standing on a balcony of a modern, white apartment building with open balcony doors, with shadows cast on the facade.
A modern multi-story brick apartment building with black balconies, surrounded by green trees and a grassy yard with plants, a child playing, and a woman sitting on a bench. The sky is partly cloudy.
Modern multi-story concrete staircase with black metal railings and circular design, located inside a building with high ceilings and concrete and white walls.
A woman with long, curly brown hair, sunglasses, and a white shirt walking up a modern, dark staircase inside a building with large windows and brick walls.
An apartment building with a garden courtyard. A woman stands on a balcony, and children and a dog play on the grass below.
Modern multi-story residential building with brick facade, black window frames, and angular black balconies under clear blue sky. Pedestrians and cyclist in the street.
Modern multi-story building with brick and black-panel exterior, balconies, and adjacent sidewalk with pedestrians, trees, and parked cars under a clear blue sky.
Architectural rendering of a modern, multi-story building with beige and gray exterior, featuring balconies, large windows, and a sloped roof section.
Modern apartment building with brick lower level, brick and glass upper levels, and small trees in front, with lights on inside at dusk.
Modern multi-story building with large open balconies and glass window panels, lit from within, at dusk. People walking outside.
A man in a blue shirt walking through a black gate into an apartment building with a brick facade and black-framed windows surrounded by greenery.
A modern brick building with several windows, set against a clear blue sky. Potted trees are placed in front of the building, and two people are walking nearby.

LOCATION

Southwark, London

SIZE

75,000 sqft

STATUS

Phased completion in 2022, 2023

CLIENT

London Square