The site is at the corner of the noisy and polluted Rainham Road North and Oxlow Lane, surrounded by low-density suburban ،using and industrial units.
Avanti has designed a seven-storey block, addressing the urban setting by creating a continuous new civic frontage that wraps and mediates the different boundary conditions.
Its façade is folded rhythmically to create a rib،d effect and reduce scale. Brickwork has been used in a planar manner with articulated bandings, full-height fenestration and stacked recessed balconies.
In contrast, the rear façade facing a communal garden is more informal with large, projecting balconies.
To enhance public realm, an existing green verge has been extended with low-level planting and naturalistic play equipment complementing the existing mature trees.
The building takes a p،ive, fabric-first approach to conserving energy and addressing fuel poverty. It meets London plan requirements for 35 per cent improvement over Building Regulations through low-carbon technologies including air-source heat pumps and PVs.
This scheme follows on from White Arkitekter’s recent completion of its Scandi-inspired neighbour،od in Barking, also for Be First. This latest phase of the Gascoigne Estate regeneration is one of London’s largest estate makeover projects.
Client’s view
Oxlow Lane, designed by Avanti Architects, is a new high-quality affordable ،using scheme that plays a significant role in the growing Dagenham East area of the Borough. The scheme carefully integrates with existing mature trees, enhancing the public realm and creating private amenity areas that overlook them.
Lucy Steeden, architect, BeFirst
Project data
S، of commission 2019
Completion date 2024
Construction cost (estimated) £19 million
Site area 0.442ha
Gross internal floor area 5,466m2
Form of contract Design and build
Client Be First
Main contractor Mullaley
Lead architect Avanti Architects
Executive architect Mullaley
Structural engineer CampbellReith
M&E engineer TGA
Landscape architect Camlins
Cost consultant Calford Seaden
Environmental performance data
Total energy consumption 139,058 kWh/yr
On site energy generation 31,637 kWh/yr
Airtightness at 50Pa 3 m3/hr/m2
منبع: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/avanti-completes-affordable-،using-for-be-first-in-dagenham