Affordable Housing Potters Fields, London

The Potters Fields Development designed by Ian Ritchie Architects (IRAL) consists of 8 glazed elliptical towers containing luxury apartments with direct views of Tower Bridge and the river Thames.

The development is complemented by a block of affordable appartements along Tower Bridge Road. tagebau architekten + designer were asked to develop this affordable housing component to detail design and to produce construction information.

The building provides extensive retail areas in a double-height ground level and up to 90 apartments on the six floors above.

The envelope of the building consist of fully glazed façades around semi-recessed balconies and translucent façades made from highly insulated profiled glazing panels. The low-iron cast glass panels are designed to provide an optimum balance between natural light, solar protection, acoustic and thermal performance. They let the building change from a shimmering opaque appearance during daylight hours to a light emitting volume after dark.

tagebau developed a fully glazed envelope and services solution that fulfilled UK Building Regulations Part L 2006 and achieved an Ecohomes 2006 "Very Good"-classification.

After its construction start in early 2008 the project is now on hold due to political and financial considerations outside of IRAL's or tagebau's control.