BLACKFRIARS ROAD DEVELOPMENT – ALMSHOUSES

Sustainable new homes for the elderly

LONDON, UK

BLACKFRIARS ROAD DEVELOPMENT – ALMSHOUSES

A highly sustainable, mixed-use development in Blackfriars Road, Southwark, provides 62 contemporary almshouses for local senior citizens in need of affordable accommodation. Designed for Southwark Charities, the site also provides more than 20,000 sq. m of flexible workspace and is complemented by community spaces and public landscaped gardens.

RLB worked closely with Fathom Architects on the project as the specification consultants. Drawing on our deep experience in the built environment sector, we ensured that project specifications adequately covered the procurement process while adhering to applicable legislative requirements.

At a glance

  • Client
    Fathom Architects
  • Services
    Specialist Solutions, Specification Consultancy
  • sector
    Residential
  • Location
    London, United Kingdom

Living sustainably in the city

With our support on the specification element, the architects were able to focus on the design element with a primary objective being to enhance the sustainability of the almshouses. The development meets the Passivhaus standard, the core objective of which is to design buildings that achieve remarkable energy performance and comfort while minimising both energy consumption and their environmental impact.

“The RLB Specification Consultancy team have supported us in providing robust specifications that help protect the quality of design and mitigate risk. Having experts produce our specifications for us frees our team up to focus on the architecture.”
Jonathan Mitchell, Partner, Fathom Architects

Design fosters community spirit

The 15-storey almshouse building, facing Nicholson Street, cultivates a vertical community spirit, actively encouraging meaningful interactions between the elderly residents and office workers. The site seamlessly incorporates connections with nature, including productive gardens and inviting landscaped spaces on rooftops and at street level, promoting a sense of wellbeing and harmony with the environment.