I don’t dislike the shape but that colour is soulless and looks dirty already. Design choice around colour needs to consider the reality that London (and I guess the UK in general) will be grey most the time.
I totally agree we need more dense housing that isn’t an eyesore but I think these ones miss the mark a little at the top, there’s no silhouette just a box.
Take Dutch townhouses for example – that’s how you do a mid rise.
Really? I mean how about shops at ground level like in other European cities? How about some pavement space instead of pushing into the street?
I’d like a little more pizzaz in the aesthetics – but essentially, yes. Yes please.
Build it well of course.
I’ve seen the state of some new build flats less than two years old – leaking pipes, mould etc.
Opinion which I am pretty certain is true: most of London (and the UK’s) issues can be solved if there were more housing available. And since nobody likes removing green space, the solution is to build up.
It’s the reason why Bangkok, with similar cost of living issues since COVID times, still remains a happier place for most people.
Yes but make it a few floors higher and put commercial units at the ground level, like other cities.
isn’t this still just **New London Vernacular**?
Looks more “office block” than residential.
Absolutely
BRING BACK ORANGE BRICKS. It’s the only bit of colour we have in this dull grey climate
Only if improvements are made to the leasehold system for both new and existing leaseholders.
This style of architecture is called New London Vernacular
Ugly af, are you kidding?
Is that 🐘&🏰?
My first thought is what are the service charges? This kills my interest in this type of property. It is the type of housing we need but service charges/leasehold costs need to be fixed first.
No thanks. They’ve built as close to the pavement as possible, no space for proper greenery. Looks like an office block.
if you want to leasehold then sure
yes but it’s a bit boring and depressing innit?
I hope this is sarcasm. Not only IS this unfortunate brand of architecture — the *New London Vernacular* — already been implemented all over London in the most dross, dullest fashion possible, but when there are rows upon rows of them, they look so fucking boring, soulless, lifeless. They’re nothing more than big boxes with huge leasehold payments and shared ownership waiting to milk anyone unfortunate enough to buy one.
The NLV has been around since bojo was mayor. At first I thought they were something better than the shit that was built in the 80s and 90s … but they’re now so unimaginative as to become eyesores.
Looks like the typical residential development they have been and are building literally everywhere in London.
Rusticated brickworks? Check
Floor to ceiling windows? Check
Balconies in bow window or bay window style? Check
What has this one special?
Rodney Road, 2015 development. Glaring issues.. no commercial space, no underground levels for parking or residents common use, no rooftop terrace. Wasted space.
I don’t like those private gated gardens in the rear either. Imho the whole setup defeats the purpose.. honest people won’t jump over the fence, shady characters will enjoy the privacy and multiple exit points. Instead, they could have an entire acre of gardens with pedestrian access for everyone.
As someone who delivers furniture across london as a job.
YES!!!!!! THEY HAVE LIFTS!
I could take issue with some aspects of the design but I agree around 8 stories is optimal. It can be built quite densely without overwhelming existing residential neighbourhoods. Where I live the council seems hell bent on tower blocks which the neighbours inevitably oppose. They claim they’ll be built to exceptional design standards but they never are.
The brick would def be a plus…have grown mistrustful of building that aren’t given the fire drama
it needs alot of changes make in seem more aproachable and friendly, but its a start
Thus, the population will grow faster, and services and infrastructure will collapse more quickly.
As long as the floors, ceilings and walls are not paper thin and can’t hear my neighbour sneezing – they’re okay!
I cycle past this every day and I think this every time
Yes 6 to 8 stories is the perfect height for most developments in London. You can get some great diverse property sizes in that sort of development.
It looks like a prison
Rented in that development in elephant and castle. It’s ok but requires an awful lot of lifts and they rack up huge service charges. The people who owned them were up in arms about how much the service charges were. About £500 a month 5-6 years are buying
I love how in r/london it’s always go flats! Whereas in r/housinguk it’s all FUCK flats we hate fleeceholds
The old Peabody estates, internally, were a decent size and build.
Not bad – gentle density, with pedestrian/cyclist scale infrastructure.
But we can do better – this would be beautiful in a Victorian/Georgian townhouse style.
I am moving in one very similar to that one!
it looks “prison-y”
u kidding? they all look like this now
Where in London is that?
The £7k per year service charge should however not be.
That’s Elephant & Castle btw!
Is this in Southwark? Near the globe?
Yes, absolutely to mid rise.
If a place is within fifteen minutes of a train station that runs trains at a fifteen minute or better frequency, it should be legal to build up to six storeys without specific planning permission. (Obviously building safety laws must still apply).
Aesthetically, I think this flat is a lot better than most modern flats. However, if you look at the Victorian/Georgian/Edwardian flats that are the most iconic, there’s much more vertical variation in the design. Really, that’s what we should be aiming for: encourage buildings with good and interesting variation vertically.
I’d love to see Councils offer a much more ‘yes, and’ than ‘no’ approach, and offer grants (paid for from section 106 funding from developers) for nice buildings. Personally I’d give the design OP posted a passing, but not exceptional grade. It should be rewarded by the council, but isn’t the pinnacle of what we need.
It’s less boxy and doesn’t have that “trying to look too modern” look about it that many other new build flats have. I think when new developments are built, they should be designed in a way that complements the surrounding buildings rather than being an eyesore on the street.
I’m a tourist who this morning arrived at Heathrow and travelled to Croydon. The residential architecture is mostly appalling. I hope it’s not representative of the rest of London, I honestly don’t know.
All cladding on the outside. Plus, city folk are not being told that the life cycle of most of the building materials used in the construction of these buildings is 60 years, yet the developers sell them with several hundred-year leases.
I hate those colour bricks. Rarely looks good or fits in with the surrounding area
48 comments
I don’t dislike the shape but that colour is soulless and looks dirty already. Design choice around colour needs to consider the reality that London (and I guess the UK in general) will be grey most the time.
I totally agree we need more dense housing that isn’t an eyesore but I think these ones miss the mark a little at the top, there’s no silhouette just a box.
Take Dutch townhouses for example – that’s how you do a mid rise.
Really? I mean how about shops at ground level like in other European cities? How about some pavement space instead of pushing into the street?
I’d like a little more pizzaz in the aesthetics – but essentially, yes. Yes please.
Build it well of course.
I’ve seen the state of some new build flats less than two years old – leaking pipes, mould etc.
Opinion which I am pretty certain is true: most of London (and the UK’s) issues can be solved if there were more housing available. And since nobody likes removing green space, the solution is to build up.
It’s the reason why Bangkok, with similar cost of living issues since COVID times, still remains a happier place for most people.
Yes but make it a few floors higher and put commercial units at the ground level, like other cities.
isn’t this still just **New London Vernacular**?
Looks more “office block” than residential.
Absolutely
BRING BACK ORANGE BRICKS. It’s the only bit of colour we have in this dull grey climate
Only if improvements are made to the leasehold system for both new and existing leaseholders.
This style of architecture is called New London Vernacular
Ugly af, are you kidding?
Is that 🐘&🏰?
My first thought is what are the service charges? This kills my interest in this type of property. It is the type of housing we need but service charges/leasehold costs need to be fixed first.
No thanks. They’ve built as close to the pavement as possible, no space for proper greenery. Looks like an office block.
if you want to leasehold then sure
yes but it’s a bit boring and depressing innit?
I hope this is sarcasm. Not only IS this unfortunate brand of architecture — the *New London Vernacular* — already been implemented all over London in the most dross, dullest fashion possible, but when there are rows upon rows of them, they look so fucking boring, soulless, lifeless. They’re nothing more than big boxes with huge leasehold payments and shared ownership waiting to milk anyone unfortunate enough to buy one.
The NLV has been around since bojo was mayor. At first I thought they were something better than the shit that was built in the 80s and 90s … but they’re now so unimaginative as to become eyesores.
Looks like the typical residential development they have been and are building literally everywhere in London.
Rusticated brickworks? Check
Floor to ceiling windows? Check
Balconies in bow window or bay window style? Check
What has this one special?
Rodney Road, 2015 development. Glaring issues.. no commercial space, no underground levels for parking or residents common use, no rooftop terrace. Wasted space.
I don’t like those private gated gardens in the rear either. Imho the whole setup defeats the purpose.. honest people won’t jump over the fence, shady characters will enjoy the privacy and multiple exit points. Instead, they could have an entire acre of gardens with pedestrian access for everyone.
If you’re looking for inspiration, look at Copenhagen… Since they’re a bike centric culture, entire city blocks can be designed for people, no compromises required for cars. Like [this](https://vilhelmlauritzen.com/collection-of-projects/kronloeb-island/) or [this](https://papiroeen.dk/)..
As someone who delivers furniture across london as a job.
YES!!!!!! THEY HAVE LIFTS!
I could take issue with some aspects of the design but I agree around 8 stories is optimal. It can be built quite densely without overwhelming existing residential neighbourhoods. Where I live the council seems hell bent on tower blocks which the neighbours inevitably oppose. They claim they’ll be built to exceptional design standards but they never are.
The brick would def be a plus…have grown mistrustful of building that aren’t given the fire drama
it needs alot of changes make in seem more aproachable and friendly, but its a start
Thus, the population will grow faster, and services and infrastructure will collapse more quickly.
As long as the floors, ceilings and walls are not paper thin and can’t hear my neighbour sneezing – they’re okay!
I cycle past this every day and I think this every time
Yes 6 to 8 stories is the perfect height for most developments in London. You can get some great diverse property sizes in that sort of development.
It looks like a prison
Rented in that development in elephant and castle. It’s ok but requires an awful lot of lifts and they rack up huge service charges. The people who owned them were up in arms about how much the service charges were. About £500 a month 5-6 years are buying
I love how in r/london it’s always go flats! Whereas in r/housinguk it’s all FUCK flats we hate fleeceholds
The old Peabody estates, internally, were a decent size and build.
https://preview.redd.it/3tavfbo08noe1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=210c3a2c51964617c42328d191884a01b805e0cc
Unfortunately this would cost 800k for a 2 bed
🙌🏼
Not bad – gentle density, with pedestrian/cyclist scale infrastructure.
But we can do better – this would be beautiful in a Victorian/Georgian townhouse style.
I am moving in one very similar to that one!
it looks “prison-y”
u kidding? they all look like this now
Where in London is that?
The £7k per year service charge should however not be.
That’s Elephant & Castle btw!
Is this in Southwark? Near the globe?
Yes, absolutely to mid rise.
If a place is within fifteen minutes of a train station that runs trains at a fifteen minute or better frequency, it should be legal to build up to six storeys without specific planning permission. (Obviously building safety laws must still apply).
Aesthetically, I think this flat is a lot better than most modern flats. However, if you look at the Victorian/Georgian/Edwardian flats that are the most iconic, there’s much more vertical variation in the design. Really, that’s what we should be aiming for: encourage buildings with good and interesting variation vertically.
I’d love to see Councils offer a much more ‘yes, and’ than ‘no’ approach, and offer grants (paid for from section 106 funding from developers) for nice buildings. Personally I’d give the design OP posted a passing, but not exceptional grade. It should be rewarded by the council, but isn’t the pinnacle of what we need.
It’s less boxy and doesn’t have that “trying to look too modern” look about it that many other new build flats have. I think when new developments are built, they should be designed in a way that complements the surrounding buildings rather than being an eyesore on the street.
I’m a tourist who this morning arrived at Heathrow and travelled to Croydon. The residential architecture is mostly appalling. I hope it’s not representative of the rest of London, I honestly don’t know.
All cladding on the outside. Plus, city folk are not being told that the life cycle of most of the building materials used in the construction of these buildings is 60 years, yet the developers sell them with several hundred-year leases.
I hate those colour bricks. Rarely looks good or fits in with the surrounding area
Comments are closed.