Brill Place Tower

Somers Town is a little-known area in Camden that occupies approximately three hectares between Euston and St Pancras stations. Despite its central location, it remains one of the most disadvantaged parts of the Borough.

The Central Somers Town CIP aims to rejuvenate the fragmented set of open spaces and existing community facilities in the area. It provides affordable housing through the delivery and sale of a private ownership residential tower. This ambitious brief demanded the smallest possible building footprint whilst maximising value within a highly constrained Central London location. Designed to meet Camden’s ambitious environmental standards, it will connect into the site-wide energy strategy.

The design for the tower reconciles a complex set of site constraints – the siting adjacent to St Pancras Station, the newly completed Francis Crick Institute and the two- and three-storey properties of Coopers Lane Estate. The tight urban conditions could not accommodate a conventional tower floor plate. Instead, a new typology of paired micro towers has been developed. The footprint of the proposed tower consists of two parallel elements, the northern of which is slightly slimmer to allow for views into the park from all apartments.

The distinct micro tower elements are expressed as vertical forms that taper at high level to a point, creating a ‘scissor’ profile of opposing slopes. The design has been developed in a considered way and appears as slender and unobtrusive as possible. The reducing floor plate towards the peak offers a skyline profile that echoes the steepled skyline of the St Pancras clock tower. The arrangement of the apartments within the tower maximises daylight and views. The imposition of the Crick Institute has resulted in a principle east/west aspect with long views north into the park.

The highly articulated façade is composed of balconies, projecting window bays and winter gardens, which is an expression of the internal organisation. All apartments enjoy wraparound, glazed corners offering panoramic views. The primary glazed façades are shaded by sliding solar control screens. These screens provide animation, privacy and a consistent expression to the façades. These elements also enclose the balconies providing an extended living space, and are expressed with a bespoke pattern that takes inspiration from Francis Crick’s DNA sampling.

As Camden has significant landholdings in the area, this gave the team the opportunity for an ambitious vision, working across council directorates to make the best use of land and buildings to maximise public benefit and investment back into Somers Town. Government cuts meant that proposals had to be self-funding and address the long-standing issues and investment priorities of local people, such as the need for new homes, improvements to public open space and a reduction in opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour. This was a once-in-a-generation chance to harness the benefits of economic growth to tackle inequality for a cohesive and sustainable Somers Town.

DSDHA were the masterplanners, Adam Khan designed the new community facilities and 10 social homes, Hayhurst and Co designed the school and Duggan Morris Architects the social housing blocks. Landscape and public spaces were the drivers for the overall scheme rather than individual plots. The involvement of the community throughout was imperative in shaping the design process. In an area characterised by change, it has been challenging for some residents shaken by previous developments. However, the design teams worked collaboratively with each other, the residents and stakeholders to produce exemplary buildings responding directly to the needs of Somers Town residents. The provision of a new school, community facilities, homes and open space at zero cost to the taxpayer was a significant achievement.