Europe’s Largest Volumetric Residential Tower

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18 October 2023

A new scheme in Croydon hopes to be Europe’s tallest residential tower to be completed using volumetric construction methods.

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College Road, Enclave, Croydon is a 50-storey, 163-metre-high build to rent development with 817 apartments, and is the first co-living asset to be approved by the Greater London Authority under the London Plan. The co-living spaces are being billed as alternatives to traditional flat shares, inspired by rental communities in countries such as the Netherlands and the USA. The apartments share kitchens as well as a gym, studio, spa, sky garden, wellbeing garden, sky library, co-working spaces, two podcast studios and a lobby lounge.

Picture: the site's exterior. Image Credit: HTA

The interiors have been designed by London studio Tigg + Coll in collaboration with project architect HTA and Outpost Interiors.

Picture: a photograph of one of the communal areas with comfy seating and tables. Image Credit: HTA

Simon Bayliss, Managing Partner at HTA Design, said: “Every aspect of the development was designed to offer residents the most liveable private space, while also having the free enjoyment of truly fantastic communal facilities.”

The development is also Europe’s tallest residential tower to be completed using volumetric construction methods. Until now this record had been held by another of Tide and HTA’s developments, neighbouring Ten Degrees, which includes a 135-metre tower and was completed in 2020.

What is Volumetric Construction?

Volumetric construction involves enclosed building modules that are constructed offsite, and then joined together to form one building. It’s a form of modular construction where all six sides of the module are enclosed: one floor, four walls and one ceiling. This type of building is suitable for confined sites, or where relocation might be necessary.

Manufacturer Vision worked with developer and contractor Tide and architect HTA Design to cut traditional construction time by up to 50 per cent. Vision’s offsite technology resulted in 73 per cent of the entire development’s floor plate being installed in 32 per cent of the programme, helping to achieve the 28-month schedule to delivery.

John Fleming, Chair of Tide and Vision, said: “It's fantastic to see this landmark development come to completion after only 28 months, two months ahead of schedule. College Road demonstrates the many benefits that come with building volumetric and its capacity to transform constrained sites into valuable real estate, most importantly, it has provided nearly 1,000 homes and a revitalised public realm for Londoners delivered in an efficient and sustainable way.”

Picture: a photograph showing the exterior of the tower, taken from the bottom. Image Credit: HTA

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 18 October 2023

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