PHASE3, an emerging architecture practice, completes its first landmark scheme in London.

At a critical moment when the shifting format of retail is challenging our town centres, our aim was to create a well proportioned and well crafted building for the future. Simultaneously mitigating the scale of the high street and the adjacent neighbourhood, ONE Putney required a thoughtful response committed to supporting the transformation of the high street.

Sitting comfortably within its context without conforming, the scheme establishes a new dialogue in order to transform a neglected stretch along this main thoroughfare. The six-storey BREEAM Excellent building includes 15 residential apartments, a shared rooftop terrace and green roofs. The design plays with interlocking volumes, reinterpreting the original structure in a new way. Curved corners emphasise the continuous lines along the high street and Montserrat Road, activating more pedestrian space. Horizontal and vertical elements are formed from precast concrete, echoing townscape materials.

Carefully respecting scale and the relationship between the high street and bordering residential road, the mixed-use development establishes a strong identity and active retail frontage, with the rear elevation stepping down to reflect the height of two-storey terraced housing behind.

Tyen Masten, Founding Director of PHASE3 added,

“Our concept was to create a timeless building that can adapt and evolve with Putney High Street. We were delighted to get such a positive approval for the scheme from the local authority, particularly as it is our first London scheme.”