The Vibe

Landscape Finishes and Open Air Playgrounds complete Award winning Mixed-use Development in London

Designed by architect Rock Townsend, ‘The Vibe’ has been an extraordinarily successful development by Telford Homes. It saw the existing Holy Trinity Primary School demolished to make way for an expanded two-form entry primary school and nursery. As well as the school, there’s also an open air playground and 101 residential flats above it in a 10 storey block.

Outdoor amenity space was key to successfully integrating housing and schooling on this restricted urban site. So, the solution integrates two innovative double-height open-air play decks separating the school from the housing. Coupled with mature ground floor landscaping and classroom balconies, this increases outside play space despite the addition of housing. 

In fact, Boris Johnson described the project as ‘perfectly genius‘. Likewise, he is quoted saying it’s ‘pioneering and cleverly tackles the need to provide more housing and more primary school places.’

Valley Provincial took the open-air play decks from insulation layer to finish. The exterior landscaping and playground areas were also completed from groundwork stage to finish in the same way. As well as extensive Hard & Soft Landscaping, the work included a polymeric Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). This was coupled with a running track at rooftop level. Other surfaces included Paving, Resin Bound Stone, Decking and Artificial Grass. A point often overlooked is the installation of street furniture and storage units, additions that are just as important in their own right.

Valley Provincial worked at length with Telford Homes to overcome several logistical challenges. In this case we developed bespoke playground equipment for the rooftop play areas. This included not only unique dipping ponds but also ‘bear cave’ play features.

Altogether the project won the Mixed Usage Built Award at New London Awards 2017 and the London Sustainable Development Commission Award at the Housing Design Awards 2017.