The Officers’ House

Location: Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London

Client: Berkeley Homes

Scale: 19 new apartments and retail in 48 modules, plus the restored Grade II listed Block A

Award: Housing Design Award

Brief

The Officers’ House sits within the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. Block A, a Grade II listed barracks building, had stood empty for around 30 years after the Ministry of Defence left the site.

The scheme restored Block A, keeping original features such as cornices and fireplaces, and added a new twin building, Block B, to provide more homes and ground floor retail facing the public square.

Response

Block A and Block B share a courtyard. Access bridges link each apartment to a central walkway over three levels, and every apartment is dual aspect. The external walkway is wide enough for residents to personalise with plants.

Block B was built using offsite construction. Forty-eight modules form 19 apartments, with retail units at ground level. The façade uses Flemish bond brickwork, deep window reveals and large balconies overlooking the square.

Landscape and public realm work created a pedestrian route to the Crossrail (Elizabeth line) entrance.

Our role

We acted as adviser and architect alongside Forta Pro, the modular supplier. We designed layouts to suit the modular system, secured Building Control approval and kept the scheme in line with the original planning permission and Berkeley Homes standards.

We prepared the technical submission for Premier warranty sign-off, covering the factory quality system, transport logistics and technical design. We inspected the factory, supported site installation and helped adapt the supplier’s system to UK standards.

We then produced full 3D production drawings, using automatic scheduling to coordinate the build. The design architect and the Berkeley Homes team signed off the package.

Outcome

The completed scheme brings a listed building back into use next to new modular homes, and won a Housing Design Award.

Planning a residential or modular scheme? See our Architecture and MMC Delivery services, contact us or call 020 4526 8965.

Project Info

  • Category: MMC
  • Location: Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich ; City: London ; Postcode: SE18 6GH