A recently completed sustainable mixed-used scheme in White City, London, ‘The Bloom’, designed by Penoyre & Prasad for Fulcrum Infrastructure Management and Notting Hill Housing, incorporates a 3,400 m2 primary healthcare and social services facility, retail units, and 170 shared ownership apartments and low-cost market discount apartments.
The health centre has received a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
The architects said: “Set back from the edge of the main road, The Bloom forms the eastern boundary to Wormholt Park, and has created a new public piazza along Bloemfontein Road, with a grand civic gateway through to Wormholt Park. The two-storey high gateway, in the middle of the main elevation, offers a strong visual and physical link to the park, which has transformed the streetscape and contributed positively to the urban environment.”
The Parkview Centre for Health and Wellbeing, at ground and first floor level, is focused around a central main entrance that opens onto double-height waiting areas with views into the park. The centre houses four GP practices, podiatry, dentistry, an integrated centre for children with disabilities, and a variety of social services.
Penoyre & Prasad added: “The health centre was cross-funded through the sale of the apartments. The modular design of the plan, and the standardisation of the glazed cladding and rainscreen system, allowed for swift construction, which led to a quick sale of the residential units.”
Built by Galliford Try Partnership, The Bloom uses on-site renewables and a gas-fired CHP plant, energy-efficient lighting and lighting controls, A-rated boilers, and high-efficiency heat recovery air-handling plant.
The building fabric has high thermal insulation levels, while the the in-situ concrete frame and slabs provide large spans and thermal mass. Good solar control is ensured via shading and solar control glass. There are also green roofs, and attenuation tanks to encourage biodiversity and reduce rainwater run-off.
