Coffey Architects is a team that has a knack for finding inspiration in the environments surrounding properties. This makes it easier for us to come up with fresh and unconventional ideas. As a result many people consider us the foremost business specialising in residential architecture London has. Therefore, you can expect us to complete your project on time and on budget. Continue reading →

The main issue in London is lack of space to extend homes and build new ones. Many property owners have reacted to this by excavating basements. There are now thousands across the capital. They are most common in prime Boroughs such as Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith and Fulham. The move has had a big impact on the residential architecture London is home to.

What type of basements are the most popular?

Basement excavations offer some very impressive opportunities. The new space can be used for a wide array of different things, from parking to gyms and even new bedrooms. Newcastle University recently did a study of 4,650 of the basements that got planning approval between 2008 and 2017. It gives a great idea of what people design for the new space.

The most popular addition to a basement is a gym. Just less than 1,000 developments included one. The second most popular choice was a media room (547). Home cinemas (456) were third, wine stores/cellars (381) took the fourth spot, and pools rounded put the top five with (376). Amazingly 115 projects were creating staff rooms, including bedrooms for nannies and au pairs.

There were some really interesting features in some of the basements. One proposal was for a car museum, giving the owner a place to store his collection of vehicles. Another project would have its own subterranean beach.

Sizes

In total the 4,650 projects would have reached a depth of 15,289 metres. The basements can be broken down into three categories:

Standard – a single storey but not extending beyond the existing property
Large – at least two storeys or extending under the garden
Iceberg (Mega) – minimum three storeys or multiple storeys extending beyond the house

The incredible thing is that some of the largest basements are actually bigger than the home above them. In some cases they even extend under neighbouring properties.

The trend is set to continue even if restrictions now limit the size of the developments in many locations. More recently the number of iceberg basements seeking approval has fallen dramatically. Submissions for smaller developments continue to be very popular though.

Coffey Architects takes great inspiration from the residential architecture London is home to. There are plenty of incredible properties, including large mansions as well as small boutique homes. If you would like to discuss a project with us please feel free to get in touch.

The latest London Tall Buildings Survey shows that the number of proposals for high rise properties has exceeded 500 for the first time ever. Currently there are 510 buildings rising twenty storeys or more in the pipeline. This is an increase over the 455 from the previous survey. The projects have the potential to transform attitudes towards the residential architecture London is home to. After-all, 90% of the projects are creating new homes.

Rise in proposals

The number of skyscrapers in London is set to increase dramatically. For example there are currently 115 buildings under construction, a 26% increase on the previous year. In addition 267 proposals are seeking planning permission, up 4%, and a combined 128 are in the planning stages. There has been a huge 28% increase in pre-planning, showing that more developers are considering high rise structures.

Surprisingly the situation is not all positive though. In the last survey in 2016 26 properties were complete. This time around just 18 are, a 30% fall. This indicates that projects are taking longer to reach completion than previously.

Tall buildings are a good solution

The big issue with London is the population is rising and the demand for homes is outstripping supply. Unfortunately the lack of space means there isn’t an easy solution. High rise residential towers are a solution because they can provide a larger number of homes for a relatively small footprint. This is the most efficient way to use the space that is available.

Building upwards is also becoming more acceptable because of good design. In the right situation a skyscraper can provide a lot of value. It is simply a case of ensuring the designs are right and that the location is good.

Shaping residential architecture

More and more people are considering the benefits of living in high rise properties. These homes can come with an array of facilities and amenities. It is becoming increasingly acceptable to choose an apartment or flat, especially when they are in good central locations. The Build to Rent market particularly appreciate this kind of home.

It is likely the number of high rises will continue to influence the residential architecture London is home to. Expect to see even more projects in the future, especially as land becomes even scarcer.

If you are considering a project Coffey Architects would be happy to assist you. Get in touch with our team today.