Becontree Estate

Archio has recently completed a unique villa project within the Becontree Estate, as part of a significant house-building initiative in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The design was developed through extensive research into the estate’s characteristics. The result is a “gentle density” development featuring 19 residences spread across two buildings, along with a community space.

The wider Becontree Estate, known as the largest public housing scheme, globally and with a rich history in the social housing movement, served as a key inspiration for Archio. By delving into the estate’s archives, they discovered hand-drawn plans reflecting the Garden City principles employed in its design. These plans influenced Archio’s strategy of creating two “villas” on a landscaped corner.

While the surrounding estate primarily consists of single-family homes, Archio sought inspiration from other London County Council developments, such as the Ossulston Estate in Camden, to devise a denser scheme. Their designs pay homage to the Neo-Georgian style of the Becontree Estate while adding playful interpretations of neighboring houses’ details.

The flats are designed to maximize natural light with triple-aspect orientations, coupled with energy-efficient building materials and underfloor heating powered by air source heat pumps, ensuring high comfort levels for residents.

Freshfield Lane’s First Quality Multi bricks were used extensively throughout the project and bring a dash of extra character to the site, with soft red and brown hues blending into the wider environment.