Park Central West and East, part of Lendlease’s Elephant Park regeneration project, received an RIBA London Regional Award.

Located on the site of the former Heygate Estate, Park Central West and East consists of 11 buildings containing 829 homes of a mix of different tenures, linked by a one storey podium containing residential amenity spaces and retail units. The towers along comprise 372 units with the rest divided among the lower brick mansion blocks.

The project responds to the history of the site by acknowledging the apparent squares and mansion blocks that once inhabited the place. In addition, there is a desire to reinstate the historical permeability from the north side of New Kent Road to the south. The result of re-establishing the permeable north-south urban grain in the arrangement of the buildings on the plot helped to define the mansion block and tall building urban typology. With reference to the traditional London mansion block typology, the homes are arranged in an unbroken building which has variation in height, wrapping a courtyard on three sides. Homes in the mansion block buildings are clustered in groups of typically four flats across six individual buildings providing several opportunities for through-flats and corners assisting dual aspect percentages.

The buildings are formed with the combination of nine different brick patterns using yellow, red and dark brick type playfully combined and inspired by the local architectural palette. Judges noted that overall the project has created a ‘vibrant welcoming place with good-quality homes accessible to a wide range of people.’