Vauxhall Square

Pilbrow & Partners’ reimagining of Vauxhall Square introduces a confident architectural composition, redefining London’s Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area. Three carefully articulated towers define access to richly landscaped central park, creating a civic heart that is as socially inclusive as it is ecologically diverse. This new urban quarter places landscape at its core. A public park acts as a green oasis and connector, forming the northern gateway to the emerging park that stretches to Battersea Power Station. The proposals enhance biodiversity, improve microclimate, and promote active travel, whilst responding to the site's changing urban context. The main three towers - positioned at the northern and southern corners - are shaped by organic movement. Their placement frames pedestrian routes from the north-east and west, establishing visual and physical connections between Vauxhall Station and Nine Elms Park. Each tower is defined by stepped, orthogonal forms that maximise dual aspect living, natural light, and residential amenity. A diverse mix of uses supports a vibrant and sustainable community. The western tower offers private homes; the north-eastern tower focuses on build-to-rent accommodation. Both deliver 35% on-site affordable housing. To the south, a distinct tripod-form tower provides co-living accommodation with open communal spaces oriented towards the park and river. Mid-rise buildings house a hotel, flexible workspaces, and high-quality social rent homes atop a proposed community health centre. The hotel building anchors the development’s western side. Offering 220 guest rooms, it includes active frontages with a bar, restaurant and lobby space along Wandsworth Road - strengthening town centre activity and supporting the evening economy. A rooftop restaurant and co-working amenities enhance the building’s contribution to the public realm. A fourth tower, at the southern end of the development site, features a 40-storey student accommodation tower. This building plays a vital role in supporting the wider regeneration of the area, contributing to housing diversity and enabling infrastructure investment. Its slender profile, active ground floor, and animated façades bring vitality to the Wandsworth Road and surrounding streets. Urban form and massing have evolved in response to the central location, enabling a greater height and density while maintaining a coherent townscape. The proposed density unlocks significant public and social value. The tallest tower reaches 230m, offering a visual focal point within the Vauxhall and Nine Elms cluster. At ground level, the architecture prioritises activation and community benefit. A mix of cultural, leisure, and wellbeing uses - shaped through research with public realm specialists - will animate the streetscape and support local needs. These frontages, coupled with improved permeability, promote safety and vibrancy throughout the day. The architecture balances clarity of form with crafted detailing. Façades express depth and rhythm, employing light, calm materials in dialogue with Vauxhall’s evolving context. Shading, layering, and articulation respond to energy performance requirements while enhancing the scheme’s urban character. These proposals offer a cohesive, landscape-led response to one of London’s most strategically located sites - delivering quality homes, resilient public spaces, and architectural distinction at the heart of a rapidly changing.