Global architecture and urban design studio TURNER is celebrating the completion of its first large-scale UK project, a mixed-use development of more than 50,000 square metres on Capital Interchange Way in West London’s Brentford.
The development comprises over 400 apartments, including both affordable and build-to-rent housing, alongside 4,000 square metres of commercial and retail tenancies.
TURNER attained planning approval for Redrow and Catalyst Housing, with the project subsequently delivered by Telford Living and Peabody. Build-to-rent developer Ridgeback is also now on board to bring the project to market.
Best described as a precinct of three distinct buildings bordered by two street frontages, the development is a new addition to a diverse neighbourhood.
The Golden Mile, the Brentford Football Club’s new stadium, existing housing and the M4 flyover all share its postcode. Emerging schemes on a neighbouring site and a series of protected vistas added further complexity to the design’s genesis.
TURNER Director Kevin Driver, a born-and-bred Brit who spent 16 years in the studio’s Sydney office before returning home to establish the London studio, led the project.
“Protecting view corridors is much more critical in London than it is in Sydney,” said Driver.
The studio’s principal design challenge was to avoid obstructing vistas to and from Kew Gardens, Gunnersbury Park, a local cemetery and St Paul’s Cathedral to the east.
“We were dealing with quite a lot of planning complexity and literally seeing planning applications for our nearest neighbour as we were designing our side of the street,” explains Driver.
The team employed drone footage, CAD models, architectural models and hand sketching to help designers and clients visualise which configurations best achieved both civic and domestic scale.
“We considered the design from different scales, mindful of how it may impact both distant views and its immediate streetscape,” said Driver.
The outcome positions the precinct’s commercial component closest to the M4 flyover, with residential buildings set behind it.
“The scale nearest the motorway is eight storeys, but there are twelve to sixteen storeys sitting behind it. When you turn the corner, you go from quite a domestic-scale building to something that’s quite civic and easily seen from a distance — announcing the entrance to the Golden Mile,” Driver says.
TURNER worked closely with the London Borough of Hounslow Council throughout the process, maintaining extensive dialogue with their urban design officers.
The collaborative approach proved effective: the design was ultimately approved without any physical changes to the buildings.
Brentford’s Wallis House, a nearby Art Deco landmark, served as a key reference point.
“Our design’s materiality, facade composition, brickwork and built form all drew inspiration from that building,” said Driver.
Just as Wallis House features repetitious vertical forms punctuated by a strong focal point, TURNER’s residential buildings echo that language through projecting balconies that function as their own focal points.
The build-to-rent and affordable housing are distributed across three separate buildings, each with access to three large outdoor communal courtyards.
Driver describes this as “unusual” for UK residential buildings, where land surrounding apartment buildings is typically reserved for public amenity.
The mixed-use nature of the development allowed retail offerings to be positioned at ground level to capture foot traffic, particularly on match days as football fans move through to the Gtech Community Stadium.
The communal courtyards are elevated on higher storeys, cleverly buffering residents from motorway noise.
TURNER also reviewed air-quality testing to determine the optimal placement of the residential component.
From the exterior, both the build-to-rent and affordable housing buildings appear identical, an intentional design decision to respect all residents equally.
“Inside, we brought decades of apartment planning experience to this project, so every single apartment is well proportioned,” said Driver, noting that maximising natural light and providing generous living spaces were key priorities.
Driver describes the buildings surrounding the new precinct as “ubiquitous,” making TURNER’s design a clear departure from the status quo. Much of that distinction was shaped by the adjacent M4 flyover.
“Compositionally, this design is very different from anything else around it,” said Driver.
“Our three buildings showcase three distinct angles and three very different approaches to facade types.
“The one closest to the M4 flyover is a much more sculptured facade that echoes the corners of the road.
“The second is more domestic in scale and appearance, whilst the third appears more civic and ‘landmark’ in its elevation and scale.”
Subtle elements such as a floating roof and an undercut at the top of one building help reduce the perceived scale of the structures.
The feature is relatively common in Australia but less so in the UK.
“None of this is frippery, all of the decisions we made are based on the geometry of the site but together they add interest and appeal to the existing streetscape,” Driver says.
The project was delivered in collaboration with Executive Architects 5PA Architects.
