Shepherdess Walk

Various structural options were explored with the team during the early stages of design to form the split-level floorplates, including cross-laminated timber, timber frame, precast concrete, steel framing and in-situ concrete. After consideration of the pros and cons, an in-situ concrete frame was chosen for the flats in order to satisfy the various detailing requirements and to meet the disproportionate collapse regulations. The chosen solution for the terraced houses is a hybrid solution of traditional load-bearing masonry, steel framing up the spine, and timber-joisted floors throughout.

Because of the site’s historic uses, there was up to 4m of made ground as well as various obstructions from Victorian basements and more-recent deep concrete foundations to overcome. In order to avoid mass excavation down to the natural gravels, a piled solution was chosen for both the houses and flats, which proved successful as well as flexible enough to overcome some of the obstructions found during pile probing.

The outer skin is formed using 75mm-thick Belgian bricks, and omits movement joints to present a clean uniform facade on all sides. Careful detailing was also required throughout for the precast copings, brass balustrades and the deep reveals, which are highly visible and an important external feature.