Raines Court, London N16
About the Project
- Principal designer: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
- Client: The Peabody Trust
- Principal contractor: Wates Construction
- Principal engineer: Whitbybird
- Contract value: £8.9 million
Raines
Court is an extended experiment into the potential for delivering high
quality housing through off-site, volumetric construction methods.
Client Peabody Trust commissioned architect Allford Hall Monaghan who in turn worked with Wates and modular specialists Yorkon to create large, attractive flats clad in zinc panels each boasting balconies and private entrance courts, while the live/work spaces are at ground floor to provide a buffer to the road.
The three project aims were all achieved: all the flats were sold on a shared and full ownership basis within weeks of being offered; the scheme increased the extent of works done off site and incorporated into the modules (which were increased in size and reduced in number); and the successes and difficulties were all openly discussed.
The key principles have been published and summarised in an 11-point plan and will be progressed in a new modular housing project - the Momo - being developed with a shipping container manufacturer.
The Judges said:
"Raines Court is an important project in more ways than one. It is high quality residential accommodation, produced under a partnership agreement. But perhaps more importantly it represents a valuable body of research to progress the cause - an experimental project where the lessons learnt have been recorded and taken forward into other projects."