Vantage Point, London
About the project
The 17-storey Vantage Point is located above the Archway tube station in Islington. Originally built in 1963, the building is an icon of the North London skyline. Residential developer Essential Living set out to convert this former office building into a mixed use scheme comprising of 118 bespoke apartments as well as amenity facilities including a lounge area and fitness room. At the top of the building is a stunning landscaped terrace area, open for all residents to enjoy panoramic views of London.
The Archway area is currently undergoing major works to revitalise the dated infrastructure and the redevelopment of Vantage Point is a key part of this plan. A brand new pedestrianised piazza complete with additional retail space will face the revamped Vantage Point, ultimately ensuring the area offers lots of potential for both buyers and residents. Once all works are completed, it is hoped that Archway will once again become a thriving area of North London with plenty to see and do for residents and visitors, whilst providing great transport connections to the rest of the capital via the Northern Line.
| Location: Islington, London | Client: Essential Living |
| Architect: GRID Architects | Landscape Architect: BCA Landscape |
| Main Contractor: McLaren | Completion Date: February 2017 |
Project vision
London based architect GRID was faced with the challenge of converting the existing but outdated structure of large offices into liveable flats. Before plans could be set in motion, it was imperative that the building was assessed thoroughly to determine whether it could be redeveloped for sustainable private residential use.
Once approvals for redevelopment works on the tower were granted, the architect was faced with the challenge of creating an attractive destination for living. Transforming the building itself meant over-cladding the existing walls in a light, reflective material to turn it into a much more modern and visually pleasing structure. While this was complicated, the addition of floor to ceiling glazing gave the completed Vantage Point tower a stunning modern finish, similar in style to other recent developments in the city. The finished product also maximised the stunning skyline views from the building’s roof.
Kinley’s involvement
A key part of the design was the addition of communal rooftop terraces for residents to use and enjoy. In developments such as this where space is limited, terraces make a great alternative to ensure residents still have access to a usable outdoor space.
Kinley provided several key products featured in its comprehensive terrace package including RoofEdge, VersiJack adjustable pedestal support pads, Atria porcelain tiles and Terrafina composite decking to the project. Ensuring fast and simple installation, the Terrafina decking and Atria tiles, sitting on the VersiJack adjustable pedestals, work together to create a stylish and free flowing terrace area. Completely safe for Vantage Point residents in all types of weather conditions thanks to its slip resistant properties, the composite decking and porcelain tiles require very little ongoing maintenance or cleaning.
The use of the RoofEdge aluminium edging was critical in the successful creation of the terraces at Vantage Point. Drainage is a major consideration when developing any communal roof area. With this in mind, RoofEdge is specifically designed to allow lateral drainage whilst providing a strong restraint to the soft landscape area.
Major construction plans are still underway in the Archway area, including the creation of more retail space, community facilities, residential developments and the remodelling of the Archway Gyratory system. The completion of the Vantage Point development has helped to kick-start a much-needed revamp of the area.
Vantage Point was an excellent project for Kinley to be involved in. The finished result is a great example, showcasing several of the key products in Kinley’s terrace package. It also demonstrates to other potential clients what can be achieved using our system.
As the rise in construction of residential towers across the UK continues, developers and architects will need to ensure there is sufficient outdoor space to support the wellbeing of residents. A key way to achieve this is to construct outdoor terraces using rooftop space. Our comprehensive package of landscaping materials is ideal for architects who want to create a stunning terrace area
