Victoria Wharf

A canalside residential development consisting of nine apartments of varying size on the banks of the Grand Union Canal, Kensal Green, London. The site takes its name from having been used as a mooring by Queen Victoria when visiting Kensal House and Queen’s Park. It later became a place of industry, being in a strategic location to monopolise on the easy access to the waterway trade route, and is now currently used as a builders’ yard. Our proposals have evolved by responding to the immediate site boundary conditions stepping down towards Kensal House and offering views down the canal towards the more serene eastern vista. The canal-fronting south facade is animated with a sense of depth by balconies not only projecting out but also sinking into the facade, offering solar shading and the option of more private or public outside space. We explored a series of options to rationalise the arrangement of internal public, private and service spaces in accordance with site orientation, sequence of entrance and spacial legibility.