New Tower Planned To Partner Balfron

New Tower Planned To Partner Balfron

Published on 03-07-2008 by Skyscrapernews.com
As part of the planned regeneration of the area by Poplar HARCA Housing Association around the famously brutal Balfron Tower, PRP Architects has drawn up plans for a new mixed use tower containing residential and office space.

Sited on what is currently a car park bounded by Willis Street Hay Currie Street about half a mile north of Canary Wharf in north Poplar, the proposals will see a tall building similar in scale to the Balfron Tower standing at almost 80 metres in height.

21 storeys tall it will be clad in glass reinforced concrete giving the tower an overall grey look. Recessed aluminium framed glazing will stand behind it along with areas for balconies of each flat adding a feeling depth to the tower facades.

Also included in the plans is the regeneration of the surrounding estate including the Balfron Tower itself which is a listed building thanks to its architectural importance having been built several year before its more famous counterpart, Trellick Tower.

Haters of brutalism can forget shiny glass curtain walling replacing the bush hammered concrete. Where original materials cannot be used sympathetic and long lasting modern equivalents will replace them. For example, original timber windows will be replaced with similar looking modern UPVC ones.

With the renovation of this, the original form and materials will have to be used as much as possible to make sure that the Balfron Tower continues to conform to the design, and appearance it takes on today.

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