London, United Kingdom
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and the Peabody Trust launch a master plan to remodel the former Holloway Prison site, in London, and transform it into an affordable housing neighborhood providing high-quality residences, a 1,4-acre green park, multiple retail spaces, and a Woman’s Building.
The architect’s masterplan retains many of the best existing trees on the site, some of which pre-date the contemporary prison and are a living memory of the site’s history. In addition, 364 new trees will be planted alongside the existing mature trees.
The development will have over 2,000 cycle spaces and create new connections throughout the site, with parks, private gardens, and green roofs.
To meet local housing needs, most of the social homes will be two- and three-bedroom homes for families, and there will also be 60 Extra Care one-bedroom homes and a sensory garden.
The master plan is divided into five different plots (Plots A–E), creating 15 buildings with distinct characters and a variety of public spaces for all ages.
Each building arranges units around a central core, reducing lengthy corridors, in an efficient and organized plan.
The introduction of additional facade shaping improves aspects, views, and natural ventilation.
The homes benefit from excellent internal light for all tenures.
The articulated corners have the benefit of separating balconies while allowing the prime window for each living space to have an unshaded view.
Each of the five plots employs a distinct material palette that responds directly to the existing context, and the selection of materials has been carefully influenced by the existing neighborhood with the aim of complementing the existing adjacent properties.
The proposed Women’s Building has been designed as four self-contained “quadrants,” each with optional separate entrances, dedicated WCs, and tea points.
This strategy ensures that each part of the building can work independently and securely from the others, allowing for long-term flexibility and adaptability to meet changing needs and to serve multiple and different groups of users.
On completion, the Women’s Building will provide a large multi-purpose hall suitable for large-scale functions, a range of multi-purpose smaller rooms, a café, WCs, showers, changing rooms, laundry, and a creche.
Project: Holloway Prison Masterplan
Architects: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) Ltd.
Client: Peabody Trust
Renderings: Secchi Smith and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Ltd.
