Venue:
Richard Mayo Centre, Kingston
Present: Michael Squire (MS) Squire and Partners
Paul Harrison Squire and Partners
Nerea Mendicute Squire and Partners
Matt Holloway Squire and Partners (Project Manager)
Mike Spenser-Norris (MSN) NHP
Philip Trim NHP
Kevin Howlett PPS
Hugh Scantlebury (HMS) CARA
Trevor Willis CARA
Richard Mobbs CARA
Glenda Leveson CARA Member
Tim Kimber CARA Member (and liasing with Tony Leitch who was not present)
Clive Howard Royal Quarter Residents Association
Graham McNally Kingston Town Centre Management
Anne Brown Hampton Wick resident
+ 10 or so other interested parties
Kevin Howlett introduced meeting.
Michael Squire introduced Squire & Partners and provided background to company (offices in Kings X and examples of work including Reiss headquarters in London). Looking to come up with alternative form of design for riverside development. Not concerned with elements of affordable housing and size of units. These are details being addressed by the developer.
Rather more, they are concerned with addressing the issues of scale and mass which previously proved unpopular.
Went through options considered and shown previously highlighting desire to keep height away from the river side.
Been developing their original option 6 which is essentially comprised of two blocks - a riverside block (G+4 storeys) plus another G+7 storey unit abutting EDF substation / hotel unit which is planned to have a vertical garden fascia (i.e. green).
A "very" rough schematic of the proposed layout is attached above (we're waiting on some proper graphics from the developer).
Design features a central courtyard with road access from Sury Basin / May Bate Avenue. Road also leads to ramp to underground car park featuring 200 spaces. The "Turn" section of front building has a lower roof line so as not to block too much light from Canbury Place.
Both buildings feature large, glass entrance halls so as to facilitate views from courtyard through to river and vice versa. Front building also features two "very generous" glass access halls, again to open up vista.
Rear building "may" feature bridges (think wharf style developments) to roof garden on EDF substation / hotel development.
Preferred elevation for apartments has been taken into consideration in that larger windows of living rooms face river in front building and courtyard in year. Larger glazing faces predominantly WNW. Correspondingly smaller bedroom windows face rear.
Given planned "mansion house" style design apartments will have long adjoining walls which will be more energy efficient. Materials will feature elements of river - highly finished timber and ripple effect facade as opposed to being bland and flat. To maintain exterior design aspects, interior wooden shutters will be used (as opposed to people using 300 different types of net curtain).
Architects feel the design is not constrained by other buildings in the area and so can be of highly contemporary design and one which people will be proud of.
In addition Michael Squire would still like to consider a tall, slim tower or "camponile" which would be a beautiful and architecturally interesting feature.
Confessed to the fact that the canopy of an adjacent tree would have to be pruned if it went ahead. This would be a landmark construction of some 1500 sq foot per story and rise perhaps to some 15-18 storeys.
Trevor commented that he had preferred the previous proposals but that a camponile might compensate for relative 'blandness' of revised proposals.
Interested to know if there is interest / support for such an edifice.
Generally this appeared to be the case (of those who voted I counted 8 for, 1 against).
Graham McNally commented that he liked different heights of development, quoting good examples from the South Bank.
Michael Squire commented on the roof jewellery which would feature a range of full height and half height spaces on the riverside building. Such jewellery would be somewhat simpler on the rear construction but still present.
Trevor commented on need to review balance of access versus security / crime prevention and encouraged architects to have meaningful dialogue with local police given location.
Trees in Canbury Development would hide most aspects of development form Hampton Wick side but one attendee still said that although no trees would be affected (4m away), she would still object to the proposed height.
Various people complimented the team on the design especially in relation to reduced impact on surrounding areas including Canbury Place, Royal Quarter etc.
Kevin Howlett proceeded to wrap up the meeting, thanking everyone for coming along around 8.45pm.
2 comments:
Note the barge dock proposal still features as part of the overall scheme. The application for a 1st floor restaurant development covering the barge dock and providing improved facilities for the Richmond Venturer (Thames Boat Project) is effectively in abeyance pending outcome of main development.
The water / sewage treatment works on Down Hall Road (which consists of a low rise building and three "pits" is not part of the development at present.
Although NHP appear to be in discussions with whoever maintains it to beautify it by removing concrete planking fence, covering over pits and generally landscaping, no firm details are agreed at present.
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