Roy Square Limehouse, Narrow St Housing

Roy Square Limehouse, London Architecture

East London Housing design by Ian Ritchie Architects, England, UK

Roy Square in Limehouse

Date built: 1988

Design: Ian Ritchie Architects

Location: Narrow St, Limehouse, London E14

photo from Ian Ritchie Architects 2007

The property is focused on a narrow square with a beautiful water feature. As an architecture student in Manchester the landscape with its clever mirrored water styling was an influence, and a frequent reference point. It is interesting to see the architects’ website focuses on the landscape, notably the elegant water feature, rather than a more architectural photo of the housing. Here is what the architects say about the project:

he architecture is a contemporary interpretation of Georgian urban residential architecture. The use of the site is primarily residential. The organisation of the accommodation has aimed to:

– create an identifiable urban development – a city block.
–provide a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and business accommodation at street level.
– create an internal landscape to provide an internal focus and sense of place which is both private and communal, and which respects the needs of both.
– create a public pedestrian route from the north (Limehouse Basin) through the site to link with the public access to the Thames at Blyth’s Jetty.
– create an opportunity for future development to be related to the site, particularly to the north. The architecture of the scheme is informed by the following:
– respecting the quality of existing conservation area riverside housing.
– creating a positive ‘street-house’ relationship, both on Narrow Street and within the new development, consistent with the historical residential footprint of the area.
– expanding the material feel given by the few neighbouring buildings.

Roy Square design : Ian Ritchie Architects

Location: Narrow St, Limehouse, East London, south east England, UK