Cambridge Road, Barking
| Client | Swan Housing and NU Living |
| Architect | Studio Egret West and Stockwool Architects |
| Image Credits | Studio Egret West |
The new development in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham consists of four interlinking residential towers of 27 storeys providing over 275 one and two bed homes with at least 49 of which are shared ownership. Adjacent to the Underground Station, Network Rail lines and High Speed One, the new build scheme provides community and leisure facilities uses at ground level. Built on a narrow site, the aggregated arrangement of connected drums combines efficiency of volume with natural dual aspect orientations.
We have designed a new substation at ground floor and provided an energy strategy, CHP analysis and sizing, overheating analysis, SAP calculations, water calculation and SBEM calculations. The energy strategy focused on passive measures and looked to maximise the energy performance of the façade. Thermal bridging design and calculation were undertaken to provide better performance than the standard ACD details. The scheme then incorporated a low energy communal plantroom, consisting of boilers and CHP. Flow and return heating hot water temperatures were kept to a minimum to increase efficiency and aid mitigation of overheating.Due to the varying height cores and extended corridor travel distances of each tower, MWL worked closely with the fire consultant to develop a combined “push / pull mechanical” and “natural” smoke vent system. The system was CFD modelled to analysis and prove its operation and smoke clearance efficiency. The results allowed for dual operation dependant on the location of fire, negated the need for separating fire doors along the corridor length and enabled reduction in the number of vent shafts required, therefore reducing cost and space requirements. The system was further utilised for overheating mitigation and environmental control of the corridors and communal space.
