Regent’s View Bethnal Green

Broadway East will celebrate the unique industrial character of a London gasholder site, providing 555 new private and affordable homes, new spaces for jobs, socialising and leisure, and 1.75 acres of public open space and landscaping. The development site, located in Bethnal Green / London Borough of Tower Hamlets, has been an industrial facility since the mid-19th Century and prior to that marsh land – and has never accommodated residential use before. The urban context has evolved significantly throughout the site history. Former industrial sites are incredibly complex, covering challenges such as historic contamination and tight site logistics. The scheme comprises five faceted buildings ranging from 6–13 storeys, which, in addition to the high-quality new homes, will provide 4,182 sqm of flexible non-residential floorspace. The design proposes a radial setting for the placement of five buildings inspired by the shapes of the existing two gasholder frames, framing the green, landscaped space at the heart of the scheme – maximising visual and pedestrian connections throughout. Residential accommodation is located at first floor level and above, opening up the ground levels to create an active, lively, joyful and safe public realm. Residential apartments will benefit from uninterrupted views of the landscape, the existing gasholder frames, Regent’s Canal, and mid and long-distance views between and beyond neighbouring buildings. Separating accommodation into five buildings will maximise visual and pedestrian permeability through the site. Activation and programming is planned for the public and semi-private spaces to bring together the new community and the existing neighbourhood. The feature of the two retained gasholder frames provides the Broadway East development with a unique character going beyond the provision of homes. The site’s history has an immediate influence on the built forms, particularly the shape of the gas holder frames, and was an essential source of inspiration – both in terms of the shape of the buildings as well as their appearance. The lattice-work beam at the top the gasholder frame remains visible against the sky to preserve the gasholder as a landmark and to create a distinctive skyline. The historic layers and the industrial language of the retained gasholder frames and the colour palette of the materials, from dark red to orange and yellow, characterise the scheme. The two existing gasholders will be dismantled, refurbished, and reinstated to create a strong architectural narrative driven by an understanding of the industrial heritage of the site. The scheme’s open areas offer large and small green spaces for play and relaxation, and good connections to the surrounding neighbourhood. The canal side in front of the gasholders becomes publicly accessible open space allowing permeability and connectivity of the currently landlocked site and reinstates access to a substantial stretch of the Regent’s Canal, for the first time in more than 150 years. Careful consideration has been given to the new pedestrian and cyclist connectivity so that the site is welcoming, accessible and legible and the transitions between the adjacent urban and conservation areas and the canal waterfront are resolved.