HWKN joins BIG in commercial development design for canada water dockside in london
HWKN makes its UK debut at Canada Water Dockside
HWKN, the New York-based practice founded by German-born architect Matthias Hollwich, has been selected to design the new landmark building in the urban development planned for the commercial heart of London’s larger Canada Water area.
HWKN is working alongside BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, as well as Art-Invest Real Estate UK and the local community, to complete one of the building which will mark its architectural debut in the UK. Together, the three structures will provide approximately 1.5 million sqft (139,355 sqm) of sustainability-certified workspace for up to 10,000 people, including affordable offices for small businesses, community spaces and other amenities.
Canada Water Dockside will mark HWKN’s debut in the UK | image courtesy of Canada Water Dockside
HWKN’s design principles have emerged from the post-pandemic shift in the requirements of our workspaces. The building draws on the area’s unique surroundings; easy access to a mix of green open spaces with frontage onto the water, to deliver a space that will meet the demands of our rebalanced relationship with work, enables its occupiers to become ‘stewards’ of the place and facilitates a connection with the local community.
The building, which will neighbor Decathlon’s UK flagship store, has active frontages on all four sides which respond to the surrounding local context. Biophilic design has been applied both inside and out of the building to complement the scheme’s new public spaces that draw on the area’s abundance of green open spaces.
image courtesy of HWKN
Art-Invest secured resolution to grant outline planning permission for the scheme in March 2022, and is currently working on a series of reserved matters applications. It is anticipated that Art-Invest will start enabling works in Spring 2023.
Luka Vukotic, Development Director, Art-Invest Real Estate UK said: “Having worked with Matthias
and his team previously we knew his visionary and innovate approach would be well suited to Canada
Water Dockside, and we’re delighted to be bringing his architecture to the UK for the first time.
“We know that new places thrive around architecture that is able to make them authentic, unique
and, importantly valued by their communities. At Canada Water Dockside we are applying these
principles to ensure the development will meaningfully integrate into the existing local context and
transform the area for the benefit of all.”
HWKN’s founder, Matthias Hollwich, added: “We are thrilled to be part of the master development of
Canada Water Dockside designing one of the most future-forward office buildings in London. We
envision buildings that empower people to be more productive, healthier and happier, creating
careers, families, and a better world. Our goal is to create more social, engaging, and truly satisfying
work environments that give everyone in them the opportunity to develop truly fulfilling lives.”
image courtesy of Canada Water Dockside
image courtesy of Canada Water Dockside
myrto katsikopoulou I designboom
nov 30, 2022