Abbey Place, Bromley

 “Very positive.  So far, you’ve done what you said you would, when you said you would do it.”

Tony Raccio, Design Manager, JJ Rhatigan

History:

Abbey Place, a transformative development in Abbey Wood, South London, is at the forefront of the area’s rejuvenation, closely aligned with the advent of the new Crossrail interchange. Spearheaded by HUB, this project has been a beacon of affordable housing, offering 245 residential apartments, with over 70% designated as affordable. Encompassing 882m2 of flexible commercial space and 2,126m2 of public amenity space, Abbey Place represents a significant investment in the community’s future, valued at £50 million. The development’s architectural landmark comprises two buildings, standing 13 and 21 storeys tall, designed to instil a renewed sense of place and community in the heart of Abbey Wood.

Designed ‘inside-out’ to prioritize space efficiency and passive sustainability, the apartments at Abbey Place aim to reduce environmental impact while enhancing living quality. The orientation of homes to provide dual-aspect frontages, alongside the strategic arrangement of accommodation, maximizes the site’s geographical advantages. The development is complemented by extensive private and communal amenity spaces, designed to foster community interaction within and beyond the development, seamlessly integrating it with the surrounding neighbourhood.

Streamlined by Innovation, Delivered by Sapphire

In collaboration with Shed KM, Sapphire Balconies embarked on a journey to infuse Abbey Place with a vibrant architectural feature through the design of its balconies. The primary challenge was to integrate a distinct lime green colour into the facade, reflecting the architect’s vision for the development’s unique identity. Sapphire’s innovative solution involved the creation of balconies equipped with solid walls, or ‘cheeks’, facilitating the seamless incorporation of this bold colour into the building’s exterior.

This unique approach to balcony design not only addressed the aesthetic requirements of Abbey Place but also leveraged the benefits of offsite manufacturing. By prefabricating these components at Sapphire’s Leicester factory, the installation process was significantly streamlined, ensuring efficiency and reducing the potential for on-site complexities. The balconies’ design and colour seamlessly blended with the development’s overall architectural language, contributing to Abbey Place’s role as a landmark in the rejuvenation of Abbey Wood.

Abbey Place stands as a testament to the successful collaboration between architects and balcony manufacturers, highlighting the importance of innovative design in creating modern, sustainable living spaces that resonate with the community’s identity and aspirations. Through Sapphire Balconies’ expertise, Abbey Place has not only achieved its vision of providing much-needed affordable housing but has also set a benchmark in architectural design and community integration for future developments in Abbey Wood and beyond.