Ingenious conversion of a locally listed former community building to provide 14 flats and a commercial space

Safa House was formerly a community building and is locally listed. The challenge was to retain the existing façade and construct a new steel frame structure behind it in a way that marries old and new in a cohesive design.

Meeting the requirements of Building Regulations Part E (sound insulation), Part L (energy conservation) and Part M (accessibility) with an overall height constraint imposed by limiting the height of the new building to that of the existing structure required careful design.

The resulting building provides 14 high quality flats over 4 floors serviced buy a passenger lift. One flat is fully wheel chair accessible and the remainder are accessible and adaptable. Air quality in this urban environment is controlled with a mechanical heat recovery and ventilation system.

Photovoltaics are installed on the roof to provide renewable energy. The upper flats are very spacious with views of Canary Wharf.