The Silk District

Located on the site of a former warehouse, The Silk District celebrates the area’s industrial heritage while delivering a range of bold, modern homes for the area’s diverse population.  Historically, this site has always had a strong sense of community – from an early prehistoric homestead at the southern end of the site, to a medieval manor house, Elizabethan Inn and London’s earliest playhouse to the north. Straddling two Conservation Areas, its location posed a challenge in order to ensure the scheme is both considerate and appropriate for the area’s historical context.

The scheme is set across three blocks, with one-third of the site dedicated to a new public realm. The buildings vary from terraces of townhouses along the cobbled Raven Row, courtyard blocks of up to eight storeys and two towers stepping up to 25 storeys.  A central space within The Silk District is home to many new amenities, providing facilities and entertainment on people’s doorsteps. Alongside city workers and entrepreneurs, the area attracts the fresh energy of artists and small business owners, while retaining the vibrant community of one of London’s most historic neighbourhoods.

Due to the scale of The Silk District and its significant impact on Whitechapel’s evolving urban character, it was essential to meet the highest design standards and ensure the city quarter would stand the test of time.  The public realm and landscape is an integral part of the overall neighbourhood, with a focus on connectivity and permeability by introducing new pedestrianised streets, squares and play areas for residents and the public to enjoy together, alongside quieter private landscaped gardens.

The design provides a flexible environment and uses a robust palette of hard and soft elements to suit the setting.  Soft landscaping is a key feature, with large areas of open lawn, planting and trees, ensuring softness and greening is brought into this urban setting.  Biodiverse roofs bring nature close to homes, and utilise graded aggregates, undulating profiles, log piles and cobbles to provide a variety of habitats for local wildlife.

During the construction process historic timber structures, artefacts and buildings were found by the project’s archaeologists. We worked alongside the project’s archaeologists (RPS and UCL Institute of Archaeology) and Historic England to refine proposals, so as to retain some historic elements and reinterpret others within the landscape design. Alongside this, interpretation boards are located around the urban quarter to provide the community with an insight on the history of this important piece of urban fabric.