48-56 Ebury Bridge Road

There are currently 11,864 people over the age of 65 living with a long-term illness in Westminster - with nearly half of people aged over 65 living alone. The recent Joint Strategic Needs Assessment on Dementia found that diagnoses of long-term conditions associated with ageing will increase by 56% between 2013 and 2033. By 2023, over 2,600 people in Westminster will have dementia - with this trend continuing beyond 2030 with over 760 new cases forecast annually. Situated on a corner site adjacent to the Chelsea Barracks development, Ebury Bridge Road will provide 44 high-quality suites for elderly people with dementia. The scheme addresses the acute shortage of this use in Westminster, which has the second-lowest number of registered beds for dementia of any London borough. Formerly used as a petrol filling station, the site constitutes a point of transition between the low scale of St Barnabas Street, which is characterised by two-storey townhouses, and the much higher buildings of Ebury Bridge Road. EPR's design innovatively reflects the prevailing character of the local architecture. The new brick-faced building, of a residential character, will be a positive addition to the rich and varied group of apartment-style buildings of different periods along Ebury Bridge Road and in the surrounding area. White textured stonework to the base of the building and brick from the first to fourth floors responds to the materiality and scale of the neighbouring street scene, whilst a rough-cut stone transition wall, in formats to match that of the brickwork, creates a seamless blend between the two buildings. Recesses within the stone echoing the proportions of the windows and entrance doors further serves to enhance the transition between the proposal and the terraced housing along St Barnabas Street. Bay windows are an integral part of the architecture and functionality of our proposal. Developed in response to the site’s context externally and the requirements of the building users internally - they maximise natural light within the building and create sanctuary spaces for residents to sit in and benefit from the additional aspects the bay form provides. Wellbeing and accessibility are at the heart of the design. Ebury Bridge Road will be fully accessible to wheelchair users - with level access provided throughout to all external terraces and entrances from street level, passenger lifts with access to all floors and rooms arranged to allow for turning circles around beds and in en-suites. Wide corridors throughout the scheme allow for the passage and turning of residents using wheelchairs, whilst a circular arrangement improves the user experience for patients with dementia, as there are no dead ends. Therapeutic planted terraces and a lush sensory garden will provide a tranquil outdoor space for residents to enjoy - greatly enhancing wellbeing. Sustainability was a key design driver. The project is targeting a BREEAM rating of Excellent, reducing carbon emissions by implementing smart energy-saving systems, careful material selection and thermal upgrading. This includes an energy-efficient plant and roof-mounted PV, air-source heat pumps and waste water heat recovery.