Peabody, the renowned London based housing association, has named nine firms, including Mecanoo, for its eagerly-awaited major projects panel expected to deliver 5,000 new homes in the next four years. Mecanoo is the only foreign firm selected for the £120 million framework.
Out of nearly 120 firms, 20 finalists were asked to sketch ideas for a design that would accommodate 500 homes on Peabody’s Archway site. The Archway Campus offers an opportunity for a high quality development of affordable homes and community spaces that is exemplary in its design, and enhances the heritage assets of the Archway, London Borough of Islington site. According to Peabody, the nine chosen practices will be ‘heavily involved’ in the housing providers flagship scheme in North London.
Peabody development director Claire Bennie says: “The site we chose at Archway for the design exercise was particularly tough, but the best entries showed a feeling for heritage, a bold approach to layout and a careful hierarchy of open spaces. Design process, illustrated through some beautiful concept sketches, was as important as the “finished product” which will inevitably change as we consult with local people and the borough. The very best candidates gave a lot of thought to Peabody’s history and how to make the most of the four-year relationship with us and the other panel members in terms of standardisation and research.”
Other selected firms include: Alison Brooks, Feilden Clegg Bradley, Haworth Tompkins, Pitman Tozer, Project Orange, Proctor and Matthews, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Bell Phillips Architects. Selected landscape architects include: PRP Architects, Turkington Martin Studio, Farrer Huxley Associates, Levitt Bernstein, LUC (Land Use Consultants) and SHAPE.