Architecture

Each building at Greenford Quay has been designed to be distinctively different from the next. Lyon’s Dock varies window proportions and positions to create visual interest across an extensive facade creating a presence on the Grand Union Canal. Precedent studies into Victorian brick warehouses informed the material palette, reflecting the site’s industrial past. Plum coloured cladding references the historic dye factory which stood on site and buff brick makes a tongue in cheek reference to the SubBlest bakery.

Lyon’s Dock provides a choice of apartments in a purpose designed building, benefitting from a range of shared facilities. The building includes generous resident lounges, meeting rooms, a screen room, bar, gym, bookable dining room and games rooms, for leisure and to encourage interaction between residents. The extensive ground floor has been designed with transparent glass screens and open spaces, drawing people through the building with the sense that there is always something beyond. The north and east facing facades connect cafes and restaurants to the canal, creating an active public realm.

Our pioneering work on build to rent developments, which are a relatively new typology in the capital, has resulted in interesting lessons learnt. Due to the sheer scale of the building and the transient nature of build to rent living, there is often someone moving in, or out. In response, our design incorporates move in and move out corridors, special wide entrances, large goods lifts and wide designated parking places, allowing a van to pull up and unload or load under cover.

Lyon’s Dock welcomes residents from 251 households with a striking triple height entrance, detailed with brickwork in a striped corduroy pattern. Other features specific to build to rent include ability to increase the number of units around the core. To enable masterplanning, design and delivery of the buildings at Greenford Quay, we worked collaboratively with the GLA, to evolve design principles unique to the build to rent sector. Part of this process included demonstrating how Greystar’s long-term stewardship, achieved through establishing a permanent management company for the development, could create long term social value for the people of Ealing.

For longevity, and to reference the industrial heritage of the site, robust masonry and metal work have been selected for the building’s exterior. A similar approach has been adopted inside the building with hard wearing materials. This supports the sustainability of the building, reducing the need for replacement and meeting the build to rent focus by reducing wear and tear through consecutive tenancies.