Masterplan & public realm:

Greenford Quay by Greystar is London’s largest purpose-built rental community and will ultimately deliver 2,118 new homes set within a new public realm overlooking the Grand Union Canal in Ealing. The first phase of the development, Tillermans, opened its doors to residents at the end of 2019, offering a range of amenities and facilities not normally associated with rental housing in the UK.

Located at the centre of the Greenford Quay masterplan, Tillermans has a 14-storey tower sitting on the edge of the Grand Union Canal with views back towards central London which provides an immediate landmark for the surrounding area. The design of Tillermans as a Build-to-Rent building requires it to be fundamentally different from a typical for-sale building. It is heavily managed and relies on large numbers of residents to be able to deliver the fantastic communal amenity spaces available throughout the building, whilst it must run safely and efficiently too. All 379 homes within the building share an attractive and generous double-height entrance lobby which connects directly to the external courtyards at first floor and help foster a sense of community within the building. Within the building the interior design continues to reflect the industrial heritage of the site through the colours, fittings, details and materials used around the building.

The external architecture of the building uses a carefully considered and simple palette of materials to compliment the high-quality public realm around it whilst delivering a robust design which reflects the heritage and context of the site. The landscape masterplan defines new active public spaces created for a range of users to enjoy including residents, workers and visitors. The scheme forges new connections to the surrounding area including a new footbridge over the Grand Union Canal. The public realm incorporates a civic square, a canalside amphitheatre, streets and a series of communal courtyards provides a new destination and valuable amenity for the wider community. This network of spaces includes tree lined streets, a landmark central square, generous green parks, children’s play areas and an activated canal-side. 
 
Sustainability:

Energy efficiency and sustainability were high on the agenda throughout the design of the building so it was specifically designed and optimised to be constructed using offsite manufacture which reduces waste and construction traffic whilst improving quality and speed of build. HTA Design, the architects for the building, teamed up with Heriot-Watt University during the design stages to analyse the embodied energy of constructing and maintaining the building and showed that by using offsite manufacture, more than 26,000 tonnes of CO2 has been saved. The centralised energy centre will sustainability provide heat to the masterplan, but without compromising the design and use of the public realm by placing it underground.

Compared to conventional construction, our decision to adopt modular construction techniques for Tillermans reduced both construction site traffic and site waste by 80%, and a study by Heriot Watt University demonstrated performance improvements across all 10 environmental indicators and an overall saving of more than 26,000 tonnes of CO2.

Material from the old demolished factories were used to raise the site levels creating a new south-facing canal-side amphitheatre and installing boat moorings. Surplus demolition material was removed via the canal, rather than the road.
 
Community & events:

Greenford Quay is more than a place; it’s a neighbourhood. We look to build strong relationships with our local communities, creating a vibrant and engaging area for everyone to enjoy. Already home to seasonal flagship events throughout the year, Greenford Quay also benefits from a curated series of regular events to bring people together, such as pop up food markets, residents events, talks, and workshops.