Television Centre Plots H1 & H2, MacFarlane Place

Affordable homes in the iconic Television Centre Development.

Two elegant tenure blind buildings located in the heart of West London’s new White City neighbourhood, as part of the larger development and existing community surrounding Television Centre.

The listed former BBC buildings and high-quality new additions contribute to an area already well placed for transport, retail, and education opportunities, and adding affordable housing to the development to provide a mixed and sustainable community for everyone

A Distinctive Pair of Buildings

Our distinguished buildings are part of the second phase of Television Centre comprising 511 homes and built by developer Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan. Housing association, Peabody are behind the affordable blocks MacFarlane Place fronting the main Wood Lane Road and adjacent to Westfield. They provide 142 affordable homes, available through London Living Rent and Shared Ownership. The two buildings are rooted in west London’s architectural heritage of mansion blocks and Victorian warehouses and we created a residential architectural design befitting of its urban context. The materials and details are natural, hard-wearing, and robust to reflect this architectural heritage.

Macfarlane Place includes a landscaped communal podium garden, a lush oasis for relaxation and to help encourage a sense of belonging and community among the residents. A new pedestrian and cycle route has also bee created beneath the viaduct which offers residents a route to Hammersmith Park and the wider Television Centre masterplan.

 

External Shading Innovation

We wanted to develop a passive solution that avoided the high carbon dioxide output and energy use of active solutions such as air conditioning, whilst future proofing buildings against the effects of climate change.

As a result of our research looking at external shading on a large scale, we incorporated over 400 electrically powered and resident operated window shutters within the external building envelope. Fully openable windows with external balustrades providing quality insulation, and air tightness. This approach meant that we did not rely on the use of reduced window sizes or solar control glazing or the installation of air conditioning. A solution that gives residents the option of natural ventilation by simply opening windows when then outside air temperature drops during the evenings preventing night  time temperatures rising to a level that makes sleeping difficult.

 

Ed Major, Senior Development Manager, Peabody:

This is a truly excellent design, which sets a new benchmark for design in the area and beyond. I have been an advocate of the design since my early involvement in the project, though what I have seen on site today has surpassed my expectations – a truly beautiful pair of buildings which future residents will be fortunate to call home.’

Client: Stanhope PLC
Project Type: Housing
Location: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Status: Ongoing, completion August 2024
Size: 142 Affordable Homes
Photos: Fiona Smallshaw