Hero of Switzerland, Brixton

A disused pub lies in a state of disrepair amid the bold Modernist housing blocks of the post-war era. Our brief is to reinterpret an existing consent for C3 market sale apartments and a re-provided pub, comprehensively redesigning a building now intended for 100% social rented housing.

Illustrating our broad range of influences, which extends even to the heroic phase of Modernism, we have fully embraced the architectural aesthetics of Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation. Our proposals build on the original consent with an even more confident and assertive architectural language. We have defined the tower with a combination of sharp angles, textural contrasts, columns and rational grids that would crown the neighbourhood with a building that is both striking in character as well as inspiring its residents with a sense of pride and belonging. We have recently had an exceptionally positive second pre-application meeting with planning officers at the London borough of Lambeth and look forward to moving the scheme onto a planning submission in due course.