Loampit Vale 2

Context and Approach

Loampit Vale 2 is designed as a sensitive extension of the existing Vale. While the original building establishes a coherent block, this new addition seeks to refine and open up that massing. The prevailing issue with the earlier phase is its perceived solidity; the new block responds by breaking the facade into a more porous arrangement that feels legible at a pedestrian scale. The project is not a rejection of the previous design but a maturation of its grammar—retaining the familiar brick language while introducing a more nuanced, articulated frontage.

The primary planning objective is to deliver a high-quality residential edge that avoids the monolithic feel of a closed block. The design achieves this by treating the facade as a series of recesses, balconies, and glazed openings rather than a continuous curtain. The ground floor is intentionally activated with retail and community uses, creating a usable public realm that anchors the building to the street.

Massing and Permeability

The massing of the new block is governed by the need for permeability. Instead of a flat, impenetrable plane, the facade is stepped and recessed, creating a rhythmic depth that changes with light and shadow. The building is subdivided into distinct vertical bays, which helps to modulate the overall scale and makes the building approachable for a pedestrian walking along the pavement.

This porosity extends to the ground level. The shopfronts are designed to be transparent and inviting, with clear glazing that blurs the boundary between the interior and the public realm. The retail units are positioned to create a continuous, active frontage, ensuring that the street remains vibrant throughout the day. The balconies are recessed into the mass, providing private amenity space without projecting out into the public realm and maintaining the clean line of the building's edge.

Materiality and Detail

The materiality is a deliberate continuation of the local brick palette, ensuring the new block reads as a natural extension of the neighborhood. The brickwork is laid in a traditional bond with fine mortar joints, and the palette is varied with subtle tonality to enhance the facade's articulation. The lintels and shopfront details are rendered in bronze and steel, providing a sophisticated contrast to the texture of the brick.

The shopfronts are a key detail: the bronze frames are slender and elegant, with large panes of glass that allow the displays and interiors to be seen from the street. The entrance to the residential units is a discreet, recessed portal that maintains the integrity of the shopfront line. The balconies are finished with the same brick and steel palette, ensuring a unified appearance across the whole building.

Key Design Principles

Porosity: Breaking the solid block into a legible, human-scale facade with recesses and balconies.
Active Ground Floor: Creating a permeable retail frontage that engages the pedestrian and activates the street.
Material Continuity: Using the local brick palette with bronze and steel details to tie the new block into the neighborhood fabric.
Stepped Massing: Modulating the overall scale and creating a rhythmic, articulated facade.
Private Amenity: Providing recessed balconies that offer residents outdoor space while respecting the public realm.

The Neighborhood Fabric

Loampit Vale 2 is deeply integrated into the wider streetscape. The building stands in a dialogue with the opposite block, mirroring its height and scale while offering a more contemporary, open facade. The permeability of the new block makes it a better neighbor—it gives something back to the street rather than simply occupying it. The retail units are intended to be a useful addition to the local economy, providing a mix of small-scale commercial uses that can evolve over time.