Nestled discreetly beside the bustling A406 North Circular Road in Finchley, Beechwood Mews is an award-winning residential development that redefines urban living. This unique project, part of the GLA Small Sites Programme, transforms a challenging, long-vacant sliver of land into a peaceful, car-free neighbourhood. It cleverly shields residents from the sounds of the city, fostering a strong sense of community and neighbourly interaction within its thoughtfully designed spaces.
With 97 homes, including a significant proportion of affordable housing, and integrated local amenities like a café and corner shop, Beechwood Mews stands as a testament to innovative design and sustainable urban regeneration in Barnet.
Key Features:
- Award-Winning Design: Conceived by the celebrated Peter Barber Architects, the development features a distinctive, characterful streetscape with buildings ranging from 3 to 6 storeys.
- Residential Provision: Offers 97 new homes, with a significant 50% designated as affordable housing, addressing diverse housing needs in London.
- Car-Free Mews Street: The core of the development is a pedestrianised mews street, creating a safe, quiet, and sociable environment for residents, promoting active travel and community interaction.
- Integrated Amenities: Includes a convenient café and corner shop, enhancing the local neighbourhood and providing immediate services for residents.
- Unique Architecture: Characterised by imposing brickwork, double-height parabolic arches, and a crenellated roofline, the architecture cleverly provides a robust sound buffer from the North Circular whilst maintaining a lively, inviting feel on the mews side.
- Subterranean Parking: Features a 250-metre long basement car park running beneath the entire length of the mews, discreetly accommodating parking needs without impacting the pedestrian environment.
97
50%
Local Community
Beechwood Mews is more than just a collection of homes; it's a carefully crafted community designed to foster social connections. The car-free mews street is envisioned as a space where children can play safely and neighbours can connect, reviving the traditional idea of a vibrant street as a catalyst for social integration. The blend of housing types and tenures within the development ensures a diverse and inclusive community, with all homes having their own front door onto the street to encourage natural interactions. The addition of a café and corner shop further enriches the local fabric, providing convenient gathering points for residents.
Sustainability
The design inherently promotes sustainable living through several key aspects:
- Car-Free Environment: The pedestrianised mews encourages walking and cycling, significantly reducing reliance on private vehicles and their associated emissions.
- High Density, Low Rise: The dense yet low-rise architectural approach reduces the overall built area compared to high-rise alternatives, leading to savings in lighting and heating.
- Maximised Natural Ventilation: Most living spaces are designed to benefit from natural ventilation from the mews, reducing the need for mechanical cooling.
- Efficient Layouts: By dispensing with shared stairwells and long corridors, the design reduces unproductive built area, making the scheme more resource-efficient.
Transport Connections
Beechwood Mews boasts excellent transport links, ensuring residents are well-connected across London. The development is well-placed for easy access to regular bus links on the North Circular and Finchley Road. For those who enjoy the outdoors, the popular Dollis Valley Greenwalk is also close by, offering a tranquil escape and opportunities for walking and cycling.
Design & Engineering Innovation
This project presented considerable engineering challenges due to its unique site conditions, including a complex 'cured on plan' and two-directional slope, along with a major trunk sewer running beneath the site. Hall Davis provided expert structural and civil engineering services.
Peter Barber Architects' design ingenuity is evident in how they transformed this challenging plot into a highly liveable and aesthetically striking development. The ingenious layout maximises density whilst ensuring ample private outdoor space and natural light for homes. The robust, five-storey roadside façade acts as an effective acoustic buffer, whilst the mews-facing elevations present a softer, more intimate scale. This thoughtful design ensures comfort and tranquillity despite the proximity to a major road.
Working in Partnership
Beechwood Mews has been brought to life through a collaborative effort, with Kuropatwa Limited as the main client driving the project forward. This development is a key part of the GLA Small Sites Programme, demonstrating a commitment to unlocking challenging urban plots for much-needed housing. The innovative design was created by Peter Barber Architects, whilst Hall Davis provided crucial structural and civil engineering expertise, navigating complex site conditions. Further support was provided by Home Group (housing association), DP9 (planning consultant), Lime (transport consultant), Mendick Waring (M&E consultant), Point2 (daylight consultant), and KP Acoustics (acoustic consultant). This strong partnership has collectively delivered a truly unique and successful residential scheme.
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