Sustainable homes to advance the Olympic legacy

Glasshouse Gardens

London, UK

Glasshouse Gardens is a community focused residential project that offers cosmopolitan East London living from the comfort of sustainable housing set on tranquil landscaped grounds.

Comprising two towers, Cassia Point standing 30 storeys high and Lantana Heights at 17 stories, the accommodation encompasses 333 apartments ranging in size from studio up to three bedrooms. These homes are a key component of the £2.4bn International Quarter London (IQL). Located at the gateway to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, IQL is among the capital’s largest new mixed-use developments.

The IQL vision is to create a welcoming neighbourhood of quality architecture and open spaces. Designed to encourage congenial interaction, this is a quarter wherein residents, visitors, business and retail can all flourish. Successful delivery of Glasshouse Gardens is an integral step in realising this ambition.

Glasshouse Gardens is part of International Quarter London, which is a £2.4bn commercial and residential development in Stratford.

All 333 apartments achieved Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

The development offers uninterrupted views of the capital’s skyline and access to 560 acres of parkland.

Challenge

The apartments were conceived to showcase the latest in sustainable building practices, wellbeing and innovation. Accordingly, they had to be constructed to maximise natural light, fresh air and renewable energy from the Stratford Energy Centre. Prompt time to market was also a driver for the client. Buro Happold worked as the lead engineers from​ concept design through to practical completion.  As part of our wider masterplan involvement, we also oversaw the infrastructure design along with health and wellbeing across the public realm.

Solution

Buro Happold carefully considered all aspects of the client vision in delivering this project. The scheme incorporates a 40% glazed area and private balconies to minimise solar gain; there are high levels of insulation, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and openable windows while the high average air tightness greatly exceeds the building regulations target. Heating and hot water are provided by the Stratford Energy Centre, which includes combined heat and power (CHP) – a system that reduces carbon emissions through a renewable biomass contribution. Lighting in the public realm is LED and has intelligent controls.

Low-flow fittings significantly reduce average water use, while a 22,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank provides irrigation across the site. All Code for Sustainable Homes ecology credits were achieved through incorporating invertebrate habitats, wildflower embankments, and biodiverse green roofs on both towers.

Energy, water, waste, transport and deliveries were monitored throughout project delivery – ‘Performance Beyond Compliance’ was attained as assessed by the Considerate Constructors scheme.

Value

Buro Happold’s expertise helped the client to advance the Olympic legacy by augmenting this flourishing modern neighbourhood as London’s centre of gravity moves east.

Glasshouse Gardens is an exemplar for sustainability – all 333 apartments achieving Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 certification. Across both towers, an average carbon saving of 53.6% over 2010 Part L1A Building Regulations was achieved – equivalent to 32.3% reduction over the current 2013 regulations.

All units were quickly sold. The first people to make this milestone development their home moved in towards the end of 2016; in a 2019 Times newspaper article, Glasshouse Gardens was named among the UK’s best new-build apartments as rated by residents.