OMA’s mixed-use development for Morden Wharf has just been granted planning consent from the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Planning Committee. The scheme created for developer U+I is located on a 2.4-hectare brownfield site, with an industrial past, on London’s Greenwich Peninsula facing the historic Greenwich and the millennial O2 Arena.
Our proposition for Morden Wharf is one with little ego, a surrender to the existing context that aims to reconcile the past with the future. Architecture doesn’t exist for its own sake but to frame the public space in-between. -- Reinier de Graaf, OMA Partner
Balancing new residential development with employment and community uses, the design builds on the site’s industrial past, preserving the existing warehouse to accommodate small enterprises and creative businesses. In addition, the project will encompass a 1.6-hectare public park, the Morden Park along the Thames’ edge.
Designed pre-pandemic, an immediately accessible riverfront public park and renovated Thames Path for all residents of the peninsula working from home or otherwise has even greater significance than envisaged. -- Carol Patterson, Director-in-Charge.
Seeking to “maximize the potential of the riverfront for public use and access”, once completed, Morden Wharf will provide up to 1,500 new homes, in 12 high-quality, tenure-blind residential buildings, of which 35% will be affordable, including a mix of shared ownership and London Affordable Rent. The project will also create approximately 700 new permanent jobs.
We care very much about the legacy that we deliver in the Borough. 25 years after the demolition of the sugar factory our proposal will bring this part of Greenwich back to life and we think it is the time for Modern Wharf to be reborn. -- Richard Upton, U+I CEO.
MORDEN WHARF OMA / REINIER DE GRAAF
- Project: Morden Wharf
- Timeline: Construction start: 2012; Planning permit: 2021
- Client: U+I
- Address: Morden Wharf, Located off Tunnel Avenue, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
- Program: Masterplan Residential 151,000m2/ Employment and Retail 17,300m2/ Total 168,300m2/ Park 16,000m2
- Partner in Charge: Reinier de Graaf
- Project Director: Carol Patterson
- Project Architect: Michalis Hadjistyllis
- Team: Samir Abillama, Anton Anikeev, Andre Backlund, Zuzanna Binda, Stephanie Bigelow, Fabrizio Esposito, Federica Giorgetta, Eve Hocheng, Alicia Krzywinska, Konstantinos Papasimakis, Xaveer Roodbeen, Lukasz Skalec, Andrea Verni, Camilla Wisborg
COLLABORATORS
- Landscape Architect: Planit I.E
- Architect, SIL Designer: Chetwoods
- Architect, Unit Mix and Layout: MSMR
- Architect, Gloriana Boat House: Carmody Groarke
- Multi-disciplinary Engineer: Ramboll
- Planning Consultant and Socio-Economics: Lichfields
- Townscape and Visual Assessment Advisor: Tavernor
- Project Manager: Gardiner & Theobald
- Cost Consultant: Gardiner & Theobald
- Consultation Advisor: Lowick Group
- Wind: RWDI
- Daylight, Sunlight, and Overshadowing: Consil
- Viability Consultant: Quod
- Mobility Trends: DG Cities
- Visualizations: Miller Hare, Pixelflakes
