Residential
Cecil Avenue
Innovative geotechnical solutions to cut programme and enhance buildability [...]
Read more
“urbanest Battersea exemplifies the benefits and innovation of Passivhaus design applied to student living.
Delivering unmatched energy efficiency, Passivhaus buildings maintain consistent indoor temperatures and superior air quality, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems.
Students benefit from a thermally stable space conducive to focus and relaxation, while the integration of renewable energy sources aligns with broader climate goals.
This building also stands out for prioritising community and modern amenities, offering a holistic lifestyle that balances sustainability with urban convenience.”
urbanest Battersea at Palmerston Court is a four-block, student-housing-led mixed-use development located in the heart of London.
Three blocks consist of 850 beds of sector-leading student accommodation, and the fourth block comprises office, enterprise, and community spaces, along with a replacement pub.
Appointed at the pre-planning stage, we worked in close coordination with other disciplines to ensure the student housing achieved the rigorous standards required for PassivHaus accreditation. For the office block, we adopted modern methods of construction (MMC) to deliver a high-performance and cost-effective structure.
Boundary Constraints:
Maximising the usable space on the constrained site was critical. Our solution was to develop 4-6m cantilevers on the lower four floors of all four blocks. This design avoided costly utility diversions and became an iconic architectural feature.
PassivHaus Specification:
The strict requirements of PassivHaus design shaped the structural approach. We reduced slab deflections by designing small floor spans, ensuring airtightness throughout the building. Detailed interdisciplinary coordination was necessary to maintain this airtightness, particularly at door thresholds, window openings, and penetrations. Concrete shafts were also used to support airtightness across the development.
The office block’s steel frame structure was built using precast cassettes, which integrated secondary steel beams during off-site fabrication. This process minimised on-site waste and sped up the construction program. We also optimized beam spacing for low-carbon concrete use and ensured all components were suitable for efficient delivery and installation.
The extensive use of MMC helped to reduce waste and improve the speed of construction across the project.
Close collaboration with Mace enabled the use of a 70% cement replacement mix within the substructure, significantly reducing embodied carbon.
In addition, the small-span superstructure design delivered a low embodied carbon frame, further enhancing the project’s overall sustainability credentials.
Walsh devised a huge cantilever transfer system bridging over a number of Victorian sewers, large electricity tunnels, and a variety of other services, each with different movement criteria, enabling the commencement of the typical structural layout.
The cantilever helped us expand the gross area of the property by around 15%, without which the site could not have been developed. Not to mention the two railways running adjacent to the property, for which Walsh led all the approval work.
Walsh were great to work with on the project. Collaborative and flexible throughout, the team was always ready to adapt to changes and offer solutions to assist other design team members. They quickly provided detailed and accurate information for the construction team and were always on hand to help resolve problems on site promptly.
Their ability to handle challenges was impressive, and they played a key role in ensuring we met sustainability targets, particularly when incorporating low-carbon concrete technology. We appreciated their practical approach and dedication to delivering on time.
Please click on images below to open a full-screen gallery.
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Sustainability is in our DNA and we have our own ambitious goals to achieve Net Zero as a business and with our designs. With innovative in-house monitoring tools, Walsh clients have seen on average reductions of 10-20% total embodied carbon, with some of our flagship work achieving 60-70% reductions compared with baseline figures.