Two cranked blocks of dense, brick-built mixed tenure housing on the canalside, backing on to a neighbourhood street and with a sculptural pitched roof profile.

Waterside Places
Hounslow, London
£7 million
45 homes

“There are some problems that architecture can solve and Brentford Lock is an example of the good-quality and thoughtful housing we desperately need.” Owen Pritchard, The Architects’ Journal, 01.05.15
  • Collaborative dynamic with Mikhail Riches and Karakusevic Carson
  • Cohesive identity for community
  • Low environmental impact
  • Productive growing landscapes at roof and terrace level
  • Brick as primary material
  • Post-industrial context

Client: Waterside Places
Structural Engineer: Expedition
Services/Environmental Engineer: Thornton Reynolds
Landscape: Camlins

Community gathering Among the many amenities the canal-side has to offer
Local barge owners Taking a break by the canal-side
Paddleboarding Around Brentford Lock West on a sunny day
Brentford tow path In use by locals and passers by
@mima2 We specified a gold roof so the bird would have a nice view :)
Thresholds A composition of the varied brick and stone paving.
Detail Overlay A 2d detail overlay onto the built facade.
In-Situ Concrete Casting The floor slab curing after having been poured.
South Block - Canal Side Looking at positions of party walls, window positions and entrances.
Brick sampling On-site mockup testing various brick bonds and colours.
Perspective Sketch testing roof form and mass.
Elevation study exploring ideas of form, pitched roof and balcony.
Signage Design Detailed drawing of the design of signage proportion in relation to brick course heights.
Facade studies exploring solid, void and openings.
Phase 1 Model study
Facade isometric study
Roof Study
Designing the pitch Sketches exploring roof types, frequency and angle of pitches.
Workshop Between Duggan Morris Architects, Karakusevic Carson Architects and Riches Hawley Mikhail Architects
Continuous evolution Through model making
Massing study
Elevation study Exploring set backs
Evolved concept study
Roof concept
Corrugated fibre cement cladding
Corrugated fibre cement cladding
Initial sketch
Initial workshop notes
Canalside Concept study
Historic Site The historic buildings on site reveal a series of pitched roof boatyard buildings.
Industrial Past Last remains of the water-based industry & infrastructure along the Grand Union Canal.

Brentford Lock