Tower Court Estate in Hackney was designed as a continuous give and take between the buildings and the shared open spaces they made between them, an exemplary collaboration between muf and Adam Khan, wider design team and residents.
The buildings are set back to make room for existing trees to thrive, they are shaped to maximise views and sunlight both into the site and their interiors. The folly, for years out of bounds, is given space to breathe and new trees visually extend Clapton Common right into the site. The edges of the site open outward as playable routes.
Buildings flex around existing mature trees, courtyards are designed as outdoor rooms for meeting neighbours.
A series of playable bridges cross a planted tree trench of rain gardens. Everyone different, they provide the invitation for children to visit each courtyard to play.
Meaningful site analysis and deep community engagement has informed all stages of the design from flat layouts to room like balconies at all floors. The scheme is tenure blind and there are no poor doors, creating foundations for a mixed and integrated community.
Client: Hackney Council
Design team: muf, Adam Khan Architects, Daisy Froud, Tom Stebbing Architects and J&L Gibbons
Prizes: Housing Design Award, New London Awards, Hackney Design Award, Civic Trust Award
