Armoures Court
Planning was granted in 2022 for Armourer’s Court. This is a unique site that sits immediately above the new Woolwich Elizabeth Line station on the Royal Arsenal.
The site is bounded by Arsenal Way to the west, Plumstead Road to the south and Cornwallis Road to the east and is currently the crossrail vent box. The residential led mixed use scheme submitted provides homes built over the top of the vent box, a highly technical challenge for the practice and wider team.
The scheme comprises of 523 new high quality homes for Woolwich over four buildings. This allows for Affordable homes for local people – 40% by habitable room, employment and retail uses including flexible workspace that can accommodate independent retail as well as new and emerging businesses.
There is a keen focus on landscaping both at ground level and on top of the crossrail vent box.
The Royal Arsenal development provides an opportunity to improve the Town Centre as a whole and increase the range of facilities on offer to residents and visitors. The commercial frontage to Armourer’s Court continues a clear linkage between the Royal Arsenal development and the existing Town Centre.
The incorporation of elements such as the brick arched base with commercial space and routes to the internal podium encourages public interaction, both from within the development and from the wider area of Woolwich town.
The design and detail take inspiration from the industrial legacy of the site. Materials used reflect gunmetal and armoury detailing, with engineering-type bricks and curved balconies. The industrial – style materials and detailing contribute to the architectural vocabulary of the Royal Arsenal whilst marking a new phase of its development and contribution to Woolwich.
Buildings 1 and 4’s primary frames are intrinsically connected through the arches at street level, which also define the datum of the podium level. Buildings 2 and 3 are also connected in the same manner. The scheme is broken into two halves by the Crossrail Eastbox access and street facing vent.
