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Style of the Nile
Timbmet Silverman has acted as an advisor and supplier to the highly acclaimed Nile Street housing development; a £27.1million high-density scheme in the heart of the London Borough of Hackney that has revolutionised the concept of social housing.
FSC certified Red Louro and Massaranduba were specified for the exterior cladding and projecting decked balconies that are integral to the design of 47 of the 175 stylish apartments, created on behalf of the Peabody Trust by award winning architects Munkenbeck and Marshall.
With space at a premium, the projecting balconies - which are rectangular on one side of the building and triangular on another - were incorporated into the development to provide outdoor living areas and enhance the visual appeal of the exterior.
Munkenbeck and Marshall wanted to create a social housing development that broke the mould, with an emphasis on aesthetics as well as function, and the timber elements used needed to be visually appealing and FSC certified as well as high performing.
Massaranduba was an obvious choice for the balcony decks due to its strength, stability and durability. Similarly, Red Louro has good weathering characteristics, making it ideal for cladding. Its light brown finish was complemented by both the distinctive green copper, which was also used to clad the development, and the rich red of the Massaranduba decking, which added warmth to the building.
In line with their environmental concerns, the architects wanted to use the timber as efficiently as possible, with minimal wastage. As a result, the cladding and decking sections were specially machined by Timbmet Silverman to the architects. designs, making the best economical use of the timber.
Nicola Miller of the Peabody Trust comments: .Nile Street has become a showcase for social housing in central London. The development is a unique design and the use of timber to create decked balconies demonstrates how effectively space-limited sites can be used to create stylish, comfortable and affordable inner city housing..
The Nile Street scheme offers affordable housing options for key workers and those looking to buy on lower or intermediate incomes. More information on the development and the Peabody Trust can be found at www.peabody.org.uk.
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