A salute to stylish design
Member Gary Alston ACIAT of London and Edinburgh-based practice 3dReid has been working on innovative designs for housing at what was once an army base in north London.
The former Inglis Barracks, which housed the postal depot of the Royal Engineers, was sold for housing by the Ministry of Defence in 2012 and is being redeveloped
under the new name of Millbrook Park.
3DReid have re-imagined the Millbrook Park master plan phase 5 designs which overlook the newly created Panoramic Park and Officers’ Mess Gardens, with 111, 1 and 2 bed apartments and 33 townhouses for Joseph Homes. The scheme gained reserved matters approval from the London Borough of Barnet Planning Committee in September this year.
This phase completes the enclosure of the Panoramic Park, Officers’ Mess Gardens, Southern crescent and Northern edge with well detailed buildings of high-quality contemporary design and an airy, green feel.
Gary Alston ACIAT said 'The project offered us the unique and exciting opportunity to design and shape a key phase within a rapidly developing Millbrook Park master plan. We provided full architectural design from re-planning the site to submitting the application. Our vision is to create a sustainable neighbourhood, respecting the surrounding environment and creating spacious state-of-the art houses and apartments with fabulous views and outlook across beautifully landscaped surroundings.'
The traditional setting of Mill Hill, and the parks bordering the site, meant the design had to respond sensitively to the wider context with a narrow plan form. This involved adapting classic Regency style, taking into account the needs of contemporary life.
The result is a series of buildings which present two façades, the exterior of brick and stone and the interior using modern, metal cladding.
The main apartment building is split with a glass atrium creating a marker for the entrance of the building and connecting the internal courtyard with the sweep of park, visually linking the two green spaces.