HTA’s architectural response to Ilderton Wharf reflects the site’s layered brief and tight constraints. The project comprises three interconnected buildings, each tailored to its use, 477 student rooms, 79 affordable homes, and industrial workspace, while designed to read as a cohesive ensemble. The scheme navigates adjacency and co-location requirements through considered massing and spatial sequencing. The student tower anchors the site with a slender vertical profile rising to 27 storeys. Its brick-clad elevations are defined by a bold fenestration grid, with a strong brick gable and decorative glazed brick detailing at the base. The affordable housing shoulder block steps up to 13 storeys toward the railway, using horizontal brick banding and recessed balconies to articulate scale and rhythm. The industrial unit adopts a more utilitarian expression, contributing to the site’s character while supporting local employment.
