Paul Davis + Partners' One Church Square is a sustainable housing development for keyworkers in the heart of Westminster. The scheme provides 39 units over 5 storeys.
The site’s location in a conservation area led PD+P’s primary design focus; to produce a simple, contextual, inward looking building and reinforce the connection with the public square by drawing it into the proposal, taking advantage of a previously under utilised amenity.
Two key areas contribute to the sense of community; the roof terrace, accessible to all tenants and the central, glass-covered courtyard, generating the unique building form, from which all apartments are accessed.
A concrete frame with SIP panels and traditional materials such as brick were utilised, in-keeping with the local vernacular. Built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, the scheme provides energy efficient dwellings with a low carbon footprint and reduced resource consumption. The envelope is super-insulated and inherently airtight, employing MVHR. PV cells on the 5th floor roof generate electricity and passive measures such as intelligent façade/glazing and solar shading fins were employed. The scheme addressed sustainability holistically and has created a community.
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