My first post!

There's a substantial development underway, just north of the Old Street roundabout, and I haven't been able to find any discussion of it. It's close the the currently-abandoned Eagle House site.

When complete in summer 2012, it will comprise:


680 student rooms
Office space
Retail space
250-room hotel (I think Premier Inn)


There isn't much information to be found on the internet, but you can see some renderings here:

http://www.lifschutzdavidson.com/

Go to Projects > Current Projects > East Road

The groundworks appear to be complete across the site, and the hotel segment is progressing quickly. At the very least, it will hide the horrendous Cable & Wireless building behind the site :D

Excellent first post...thank you.

It looks horrible. I hate the assymetrical windows and blank facades.

Eugh it's horrible and bland

a more illustrative pic

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/5932NewRomanHouseBuilding1_pic1.jpg

plenty of info really ;)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2013

I still don't like it, but it sure beats the hell out of the dross that's there at the moment.

I still don't like it, but it sure beats the hell out of the dross that's there at the moment.

I have to agree... Not outstanding, but an improvement.

It's close to this proposed development, which isn't hugely inspiring either:

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2715

It's close to this proposed development, which isn't hugely inspiring either:

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2715

God that's AWFUL!!!

I don't mind it, it's very urban, think New York's vast amount of red brick residential buildings. This area doesn't need gimmicky buildings everywhere and in some way's this is a sober but thoughtful exercise all be it with checker board windows.
LDS produce very good buildings and I'm happy this kind of development is going up.

On the other hand look at the shite being proposed down the road at the roundabout another Allford Hall Monaghan Morris blooper, are they trying to resurrect all the post war crap we are desperately trying to rid our city's of, shameful and stupid design for a roundabout that needed some love.

Here are some photos that I took earlier. Sorry about the quality - they're phone pics. Plus it was a dismal day.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/east_road_04.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/east_road_03.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/east_road_02.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/east_road_01.jpg

I have to say that it's growing on me! Can't wait to see it progressing.

O blimey thats there. Didnt think to wonder what was being developed, site was cleared a while back. Interesting development. More accomodation is a good thing. A nice finger to Islington from Hackney. Shame it seems to be all the less fortunate boroughs doing all the hard work for London.

The random windows are going to look as dated as those on every other recent building but fortunately this doesn't appear to be a major feature here. Otherwise I'm not sure why people are so against this. It's urban and dense, looks decidedly modern and yet manages somehow to fit with its surroundings - surely what we want.

As the build progresses, I'm starting to get more excited about this. Within the context of its immediate surroundings, it's going to look huge. I don't think you really get a sense of that from the renderings.

Here are some more photos that I took today (again, sorry about the poor quality):

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_0614.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_0612.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_0611.jpg

I had no idea this had progressed so quickly from the drawing board.

I do like it, I shouldn't.. but I'm into this would be dated look of mis-alligned glazing. I like how the public house sits next to the development - it doesn't work, but I still like it :| It is that generic, 'every big urban area should have a good few of' kind of developments - not high end, but a good ingredient to the fabric - like when you're in the early stages of a sim city like game :D

http://www.cranesetc.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/easta230211.jpg

First cladding on the hotel.

http://www.cranesetc.co.uk/cranesetcphotos/eastb230211.jpg

This project is progressing rapidly. It's quite hard to get decent shots of the build, as it's a large site. These are some iPhone shots that I took while passing by yesterday.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_march2011_c.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_march2011_a.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_march2011_b.jpg

^ This is going to be an impressive development when complete. Still another 8-10 floors to go on the block above! You can't get a sense of the bulk of it from these photos, but I think that this cluster of buildings will help redefine the area.

Great progress. Thx for the update

I have to agree... Not outstanding, but an improvement.

It's close to this proposed development, which isn't hugely inspiring either:

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2715

Small point of trivia from personal experience working for them a few years back: Wilkinson Eyre Architects used to have their offices at 100 City Road.

Would have been interesting to see their take on the project :)

So I go past this every day on my bus (past the roadworks) and always wanted to know what the finished buildings would look like...

...

Good to see they're putting up more bland modern shite there.

I guess I'll have to wait 30 years or so for this to get knocked down and hope they put up something half decent in its place.

I guess I'll have to wait 30 years or so for this to get knocked down and hope they put up something half decent in its place.
like what? Give me an example of something 'half decent' that could've been built here?

like what? Give me an example of something 'half decent' that could've been built here?

Judging from his previous posts, something Georgian.

Some more phone pictures of the development, which is rapidly taking shape.

The student blocks following the curve of East Road:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_april2011_b.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_april2011_a.jpg

The new public space separating the hotel (on the right) from the rest of the development:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_april2011_c.jpg

It's hard to get decent photos on a phone camera!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_april2011_d.jpg

The hotel hugging the Three Crowns pub... you can't see from this picture, but the red brick cladding has already been started:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_april2011_e.jpg

View from the other side of Old Street roundabout:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_april2011_f.jpg

Thanks Londoner1. :cheers2:

The design's not all that groundbreaking, but I like how this development adds real density to the area. I'm also glad they are keeping/renovating the Three Crowns pub.

I agree with Delores and Hazeley. I think London could do with more buildings like these: high density, urban, imposing residential blocks a la New York.

Time for an update!

Unfortunately the sky was dark grey when I took these, so they're a tad dull.

Looking down East Road towards Old Street roundabout:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_i.jpg


View of the back of the development:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_h.jpg


From East Road:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_g.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_f.jpg


Cladding on the hotel:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_d.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_c.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_b.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_a.jpg


From City Road:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_e.jpg

Great photos! The cladding on the hotel is looking class and will contrast well with the red brick used on the rest of the development. :cheers:

I love how the little pub remains.

I really hope the brick they use isn't soulless like the building to the right on the last picture

I really hope the brick they use isn't soulless like the building to the right on the last picture

The brick looks more textured and brighter than that used on the 90s building alongside. There are two shades – a traditional red, and a browner tone (similar to the pub).

I thought it might be helpful to get a sense of the scale of the development by taking a picture from another location:


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_july2011_j.jpg

I think this is a good development, has made a big impact on the local skyline, we can see it from our office roof terrace in Spitalfields.

Old Street desperately needs some high density, new developments to spruce the area up. If Boris, Dave and Gideon are really genuine about turning the area into 'Silicon Roundabout' and attracting blue-chip media and internet companies, they need to pump a lot of money into it...

I really hope the brick they use isn't soulless like the building to the right on the last picture

I wouldn't get your hopes up.

I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Seriously, the quality of brick used is miles better, in a different league to the 90s effort.

There's variation in the colours so it's far less flat-looking. I'll try to take a photo when I get a chance.

I think London could do with more buildings like these: high density, urban, imposing residential blocks a la New York. I can dream!

...which is, I think, what we're seeing happen gradually, with schemes like this and all the high-rises around Stratford and Docklands. As I understand it, the original Thames Gateway project to build thousands of new homes along the Thames Estuary, way out into Essex and Kent, has now been revised so that the same number of homes will be built within Greater London, with east London accommodating the most, due to its having been relatively low-density up until now, with many brownfield sites. Correct me if I'm wrong...

...which is, I think, what we're seeing happen gradually, with schemes like this and all the high-rises around Stratford and Docklands. As I understand it, the original Thames Gateway project to build thousands of new homes along the Thames Estuary, way out into Essex and Kent, has now been revised so that the same number of homes will be built within Greater London, with east London accommodating the most, due to its having been relatively low-density up until now, with many brownfield sites. Correct me if I'm wrong...

That makes complete sense if that's the case, so knowing our politicians probably isn't.

Always thought the gateway scheme seemed flawed. Thousands more people living in Barret boxes travelling in from Essex and Kent to London would've been a transport nightmare. And what business would have set up out in Kent and Essex. That decentralisation plan was adopted post WW2 and failed. Not that their isn't a need for housing there of course, but the proportion seemed way too high given the huge number of disused or underutilised brownfield sites in Zones 2-6 in London.

Yep, that is exactly what I though. It was a classic case of pushing something that most didn't want (bar the developer). Turning large parts of Kent and Essex into medium dense sprawl is dumb. We should be building fewer but larger houses there.

This area is already quite dense, but it's going to get denser:

New tower for Shoreditch Park (http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/massive_towerblock_bordering_shoreditch_park_given_outline_planning_permission_by_hackney_council_1_971518)

For those that don't know the area, Shoreditch Park is just up the road from the East Road development.

My only beef with the East Road development is that it has now obscured the view of the Shard that I had from my flat :(

This area is already quite dense, but it's going to get denser:

New tower for Shoreditch Park (http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/massive_towerblock_bordering_shoreditch_park_given_outline_planning_permission_by_hackney_council_1_971518)

For those that don't know the area, Shoreditch Park is just up the road from the East Road development.

My only beef with the East Road development is that it has now obscured the view of the Shard that I had from my flat :(

My bus goes past there. Who on earth would want to live there? The area is one massive council estate.

My bus goes past there. Who on earth would want to live there? The area is one massive council estate.

Yes, the worst part of which is to be demolished and rebuilt, using the tower to help fund the regeneration of the social housing.

The area has a lot going for it: the site for this development is next to the Gainsborough Studios, it's positioned between the park and the Regent's Canal, it has a leisure centre, plus Islington and Shoreditch are close by. Much of the canalside has been utterly transformed in recent years, and there's still a huge amount of potential.

This development has topped out: http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=2907

Does anyone know how I can change the title of this thread to T/O?

Meanwhile, here's a pic I took today from Pitfield Street, with New Roman House the nearer of the two skeletal developments, and Eagle House the one behind...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/eaglehouse_aug11_a.jpg

And another from East Road...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1395.jpg

A few people were asking about the brickwork on this development. Most of the hotel has now been uncovered, so here are a couple of iPhone snaps showing how it looks:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1407.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1406.jpg

I think it looks a bit austere currently... I'm sure it will look better when the whole building is complete (with the street-level parts adding context).

At the moment, it's looking better than the rendering.

i Agree the white cladding is excellent.

I went by this on the bus yesterday and was so busy boring my girlfriend stupid regaling my girlfriend about the fascinating and tragic story of Eagle House that I only just noticed that this was really in full swing.

Frankly I'm surprised that it's got so little attention here, but perhaps - as with me - it's kind of crept up unassumingly on everyone.

Not unpleasantly so.

Old Street / Shoreditch is going to be awash with new hotels soon!

There's this one, the Art'otel on the site of The Foundry, the one in the old Magistrate's Court opposite the Town Hall, and the angular one next to Eagle House. Any I've missed?

It's about time something was done to improve the embarrassment that is Old Street station :s

Ahh, The Foundry......

From today:

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293969_10150835324675541_787295540_21011721_959899753_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/314753_10150835324990541_787295540_21011722_1906506152_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/294051_10150835325310541_787295540_21011723_783658223_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/299059_10150835325525541_787295540_21011724_179762046_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309410_10150835325745541_787295540_21011725_1676892086_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315554_10150835325975541_787295540_21011726_1861276952_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/304192_10150835326230541_787295540_21011728_1510479852_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296055_10150835326550541_787295540_21011731_1809496902_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297414_10150835326830541_787295540_21011732_1700611967_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/294521_10150835327080541_787295540_21011734_94680743_n.jpg

^^ That last one is of steel on its way to 20 Fenchurch Street. Good timeing.

Very impressed with how this is turning out. :)

Thanks for the new pictures, Core Rising.

I walk past this development every day, and since the scaffolding came down from the hotel, it has become very reminiscent of a 1930s power station such as Bankside or Battersea. I think Core Rising's photos capture that.

Thought it might be interesting to remind ourselves of what this development has replaced.

First of all, there was this beauty...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/ScreenShot2011-10-07at153605.png

And beside it was this handsome block:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/ScreenShot2011-10-07at153535.png

I can't believe English Heritage didn't get involved to protect these superb examples of postwar architecture from demolition!

;)

The area actually is easily repairable once you demolish the tat around the roundabout plus the roundabout plus the 80's red brick office building down the road.

I like the form of this building from the main road and side streets, the quality of brick, the break up of the massing and the scale difference with the corner pub. I am not so convinced with the important view looking north from south of the roundabout, it seems a tad dull when the quality of brick and its industrial feel is lost somewhat. This will sit behind a large inter-war resi block so the view wont change. The up and coming diamond shaped hotel might help alleviate this negative point in future.

A selection of new photos, taken today.

Whilst I was taking the photos, one of the builders came up to me and started chatting about the development. He was very proud of his team's work on the site, and justifiably so. I really like the way that it's turning out; I particularly like how it fits so well with the industrial heritage of the area, and how it has created new blocks and opened up long-forgotten side streets. I've tried to get a sense of that with some of these photos.

The hotel is now open, with the entrance via the new public space to the side of the building. The office space (the section of the building with the white cladding) looks very near to completion too. I think that when the entire complex is open, with retail and students in place, it will become quite a buzzy little area.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_01.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_02.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_03.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_04.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_05.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_06.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_07.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_08.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_09.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_10.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_11.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_13.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_14.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_15.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/10eastroad_nov2011_16.jpg

Very nice, hope the old pub gets some love

Very nice, hope the old pub gets some love

A planning application was submitted on 11th November:

'Refurbishment of Public House to provide flexible A1 (sandwich shop), A3 (Restaurant) or A4 (public house) use, including extension of uses into ground level of 10 East Road (that part facing Brunswick Place) with provision of 3 x one bed residential units to upper floors.'

I hope that it remains a pub.

Interestingly, another application was submitted this week, to redevelop the site directly behind the hotel. You can see part of the building cluster that they propose to demolish in the 7th photo in my post above.

This application is 'to provide a new education facility comprising 5,528 sqm teaching accommodation and associated facilities (D1 Class use); 541 student rooms; 376 sqm of flexible retail/restaurant use'. They're proposing a height of up to 11 storeys in part, which would sit nicely with the hotel and further enhance the density of the area.

The A1 use bit will no doubt become a pret?

but it is student accommodation...

I do like this development, it seems consistent with the current vibe and culture of the area, especially if the pub remains and is restored rather than redeveloped; a kind of meat packing district, New York/industrial feel to it. However... I'm not so sure about the colour of the bricks used and the windows on one of the shots look like council estate front doors :lol:

Love the brick work on this building. Any one got any pictures of the other part of the project under construction? Seems to only be pictures of the hotel part.

It reminds me of a development on the main road through Preston (not a bad thing, it's a decent new build).

Love the brick work on this building. Any one got any pictures of the other part of the project under construction? Seems to only be pictures of the hotel part.

Most of it is still covered up, so there's not much new to see yet.

More of this development has now been revealed. I took these pictures earlier today on my phone.

I'm not sure about the extruding window units, but I quite like the overall effect. It creates the illusion of being a cluster of buildings.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1973.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1974.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1976.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1978.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_1980.jpg

Another quick update...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_2007.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/IMG_2006.jpg

Cheers, this really has surpassed my expectations. I'd love this to be a template for inner city development.

I'm not entirely sure strange window patterns work well with brick cladding.

I saw this at the weekend from Old Street. Was amazed by how fast it's come along, although it's been a while since I've actually got out of the station facing in it's direction. I was pleasantly surprised. Looks good in context. The bricked up window bits facing east are a bit odd though!

Another update! The scaffolding has all come down now.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010175.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010174.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010173.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010172.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010171.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010170.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010169.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010167.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P1010165.jpg

Nice to see The Shard put in an appearance in the 6th picture. :)

I love this development. Contemporary with a nod to our industrial past! Very well thought out.

Love it! This one's a keeper.

Perfect development for the location and site.

I;m glad we are still building some resi which will last longer than 30 years.

The owner of this development plans to demolish Crown House, the 80s red brick beauty opposite that is currently home to NIG, and build two towers on the site:

http://www.freeofficesearch.co.uk/OfficeSpaceNews/City-Road-Offices-set-for-Residential-Conversion

There's going to be a decent cluster on City Road eventually.

I've heard on the local grapevine that they also expressed interest in buying nearby Eagle House (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=483737&page=18), but the asking price was said to be ridiculous...

As this is nearing completion, I thought a few new pictures were in order...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060847.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060845.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060844.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060842.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060840.jpg
(The one above shows 'Silicon Way')

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060838.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060837.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l95/hollo_and_gonch/Construction/P7060835.jpg

Looks good, the window boxes are a bit crazy on the side though, odd positioning.

Yet more ziggy-zaggy / misaligned windows of different shapes and sizes. I really do hope this fad dies out very soon as it ain't half untidy to look at.