Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park

During the design process, the outline consented planning parameters were challenged by the architects, who worked closely with the Local Planning Authority to adjust the heights of the buildings where appropriate and secure the full support of the Borough for the project. Height is a very important factor when designing new infrastructure as it determines the impact a building will have on its surroundings. In this case, the height of the buildings varies significantly from five to nineteen storeys, which allows the development to blend into the diverse surrounding Georgian and Victorian context.

The design concept focused on creating characterful buildings that maintain the rich historic setting of the area. In addition to the height of the buildings, the architects and contractors used the brickwork as the key to blending the facade into its surroundings. Taylor Maxwell helped the contractors to select a variety of different bricks in different colours and textures to create an articulated transition between the low buildings and the taller ones rising from the podium. Darker tones were used closer to the street, whilst lighter tones were used at the higher points. This makes the finished project look like a collage and it helps breakdown the main blocks to a smaller and more human scale. Additionally, a lighter brickwork was used on the courtyard elevations to amplify sunlight and create a calmer backdrop for the shared garden.

The development was completed in 2019 and provided the area with a total of 228 new homes and over 2,500sqm of retail and cultural spaces. By using the different tones of bricks and the varied height of the buildings, the architects have transformed this pivotal area into a coherent urban edge city block full of vibrancy and life.

Lendlease partnered with landscape architects Gillespies to create a range of spaces, including versatile facilities and calming green areas that enable residents to explore new ways to work, live and socialise. The central courtyard in Orchard Gardens was created to reflect the richness of Walworth Woods, which previously occupied the area. Native and non-native plants were used on the development to maximise biodiversity and to create a safe environment for residents to explore nature and enhance their wellbeing.