Icona Stratford, Tower, London Apartments, Telford Homes, Residential Development
Icona Stratford Tower
Telford Homes Development: Tower in east London – design by Stock Woolstencroft
22 Apr 2008
Icona Stratford Homes
Design: Stock Woolstencroft Architects
WORK COMPLETES ON LANDMARK OLYMPIC SCHEME
Icona, the first scheme overlooking the Olympic Park is nearing completion. Telford Homes’ residential-led, mixed-use development is one of the first schemes in the area to hand over. It will overlook the Olympic aquatic centre and is within 300m of the proposed stadium.
Telford Homes acted as both developer and contractor and architects and urban designers, Stock Woolstencroft, designed and oversaw the construction of this high-profile, landmark development, which made extensive use of Modern Methods of Construction and is a clear and positive sign of things to come in the Stratford vicinity.
photos © Nick Weall
Telford Homes’ brief was for the architects to transform a derelict and decaying Brownfield site and deliver a landmark building, to act as a key driver for long-term revitalisation of the area. After carrying out a detailed urban analysis of the emerging townscape, Stock Woolstencroft suggested a scheme clad with a brightly coloured facade to cement its prominent status.
Inspiration for the elevations came from studying the work of artist Donald Judd, particularly his use of bold, regular forms, strong colours and industrial materials to create art that emphasised purity of colour, form, space and materials.
Icona is a triumph of construction as well as architecture and has already collected a Silver Seal of Excellence at the NHBC Pride in the Job awards. In order to achieve the best quality and avoid damage to the facades caused by extensive scaffolding during the construction phase, the external envelope of steel and glass balconies and aluminium panels and distinctive fins were manufactured as pre-fabricated complete elements, which were then installed on site without the need for scaffolding.
The majority of the external walls and the entire 18-storey, elliptical tower were constructed in this manner and the result is a high-quality finish with crisp, clean lines, as befitting a building with a strong Olympic context.
There are also pre-fabricated staircases and pre-fabricated bathroom and ensuite shower room pods throughout the development, divided into two bathroom types and two ensuite types.
photographs: Morley von Sternberg
Icona comprises 249 units of which 87 are affordable housing for East Homes. The affordable homes all use the same materials and style as the open market homes making it a tenure blind development. There are three buildings that make up the development, an 18-storey tower and two other buildings at seven and four storeys. Underground parking (with 70 spaces) is provided, as is over 920sq m of commercial space, which includes a residents’ gym.
John Fitzgerald, managing director of Telford Homes Alto said: “Icona is a true symbol of Olympian optimism – it sets a high benchmark for future development in Stratford and will help drive the economic and social regeneration of the area for years to come.”
Stock Woolstencroft partner, Derek Jay said: “It is unusual for a residential scheme to have pre-fabrication to this extent on the external faÁade, demonstrating how Icona pushes technical boundaries as well as architectural ones. The outcome is a high quality, benchmark development that local people and London can be proud of.”
Icona Stratford project : Stock Woolstencroft
Icona is one of three Stock Woolstencroft schemes that will feature in New London Architecture’s ‘Des Res: London’s housing challenge’ exhibition taking place 24 April – 14 June.
Stock Woolstencroft is currently working on some ten schemes at varying stages of construction in the Olympic vicinity, totalling over 2,300 units and with a construction value of over £300 million.
Stock Woolstencroft is a 70-strong practice formed in 1989 and has an established reputation for maximising the potential of each project, adding value through leadership, teamwork and vision.
Much of the firm’s work involves close working with regeneration agencies, local government authorities and public and private sector clients, and has been driven by projects concerned with new buildings, re-use of existing buildings, environmental improvement and economic regeneration.
In recent years the practice has been responsible for projects in private and social housing, community, health and education sectors as well as urban design and master planning projects. The practice has a reputation for project enabling and much of its architectural work is borne from its role as a key player in the early stages of regeneration.
Telford Homes Plc was established in the year 2000. By providing excellent product finish, customer service and value for money, the Company has enjoyed continuous and substantial growth since formation.
In addition to producing high quality, desirable new homes at affordable prices, Telford Homes has thrived upon its choice of development locations. By carefully selecting locations that are in close proximity to established or planned transport links, often in areas that have major regeneration programmes planned or under way.
Since 2001, Telford Homes has been traded on AIM — the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. Telford Homes continues to grow: as at April 2008 the Company has around 69 developments either completed, under construction or in design for future construction.
Icona Stratford images / information from Stock Woolstencroft
Icona Stratford design : Stock Woolstencroft
Location: Icona Stratford, East London, England, UK
London Buildings
Contemporary London Architecture
London Architecture Links – chronological list
London Architecture Walking Tours by e-architect
Buildings close by to Icona Stratford:
Olympic Stadium
Architects: Populous
London Olympic Stadium
Olympic Aquatics Centre
Zaha Hadid Architects
London Aquatics Centre
Royal College of Pathologists HQ, Alie Street, East London
Architects: Bennetts Associates
photograph : Peter Cook
Royal College of Pathologists East London
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