externally the buildings suffer from concrete corrosion, this will be difficult to repair and match with the existing finish as required by their conservation status; the underground garages are poorly lit and intimidating, they suffer from constant vandalism, water leaks from above and discarded rubbish. The knock-on effects are social, economic and environmental. Half a century after its construction, Balfron Tower has a new lease of life thanks to a full restoration and refurbishment to bring it up to exacting modern standards. Despite the obvious negative perceptions of Balfron Tower and Carradale House, there are many residents that appreciate their location and far-reaching view and architecture. After refurbishment the empty flats, whose residents have chosen to relocate to the new homes built in and around the estate, will be sold on the open market. Goldfinger's Balfron Tower, Carradale House and Glenkerry House sit in a cluster on either side of St Leonard’s Road, close to the entrance to the Blackwall Tunnel. Refurbishment Representative of the style of the British Brutalist architecture movement, they were designed by the Hungarian-born architect Ernö Goldfinger, who also designed Trellick Tower. The individual ground-floor maisonette gardens appear to be replaced by a long pool of water and mature trees. Key to this transformation is giving people a choice. 15/02555, relating to the proposed refurbishment of Balfron Tower accessed from Tower Hamlets’ planning portal.2 ii) Appraisal of material on the stock transfer and wider refurbishment of the Brownfield Estate since 2006 accessed from Tower Hamlets’ planning portal, through Freedom of Information requests and from email correspondence with Poplar HARCA. Video of dark silhouette of Balfron Tower against the sky, followed by predominantly still shots of it and Carradale House]. The artwash & social cleansing of Balfron Tower. Foreboding synth music repeats on loop. The scheme also includes improved public lighting to the green and the base of Carradale House. Open spaces will be redeveloped, security improved, a multi-use sports area and play facilities will be provided. Both buildings have Grade II listed status. It is one of three housing blocks by Goldfinger on the Brownfield Estate in Poplar, East London, alongside Carradale and Glenkerry House. The ground-level play areas were closed shortly after the buildings opened and their design problems have never been properly addressed. These historic and interesting buildings will receive the necessary renovations for long-term mixed use. Balfron Tower in 2011 pic: @BalfronSocial. New fenestration at Balfron Tower, introduced as part of Studio Egret West’s refurbishment of the grade II* building, becoming visible as the scaffolding comes down . However the unusual and bespoke design of the buildings means that the investment needed to maintain them has exceeded the Borough’s resources. Residents will get a real choice of where they live, social issues will be addressed, Brownfield Estate should once again become a thriving, vibrant and sustainable community in line with the ethos of our organisation. It will also greatly enhance the quality of Jolly’s Green, providing a barrier from the motorway, improving security in line with the safer homes and Secure by Design guidelines. Lifts serve every third floor; thus, to reach a flat on the 11th, 12th or 13th floors, residents or visitors would take a lift to the 12th. The quotation is from Greg Slater of PRP Architects who are consultants on the refurbishment. Balfron Tower: The Artwash of an Icon by Rab Harling May 10, 2017; Balfron Tower, Bow Arts and the Missing Millions February 11, 2017; If only Balfron Tower could talk, if only we could see September 19, 2016; The Fall of Goldfinger’s Brutalist Balfron Tower and its Social Heritage September 15, 2016 The underground parking areas will be transformed to create a more welcoming and attractive environment. The 27-storey tower, designed by Erno Goldfinger, forms part of the Brownfield Estate in an area of social housing between Chrisp Street Market and the A12 northern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel. Formerly social housing owned by the borough of Tower Hamlets, the Balfron Tower, and its surrounding estate comprising two other residential buildings, developed a need in the early 2000s for complete refurbishment. BALFRON TOWER PLANNING APPLICATION Comments to Tower Hamlets Council on Planning Applications Nos. In December 2007, following a ballot of residents in 2006, Tower Hamlets Council transferred its ownership of Balfron Tower, Carradale House and the surrounding Brownfield Estate to Poplar HARCA, a housing association. Social housing policy is moving away from the promotion of tower blocks as family accommodation but real choice in social housing currently does not exist. The small housing development to the south-west corner completes the enclosure of the Jolly’s Green open space, providing the added security of residential property overlooking this public area. Overall: This scheme allows for the refurbishment of Balfron and Carradale. The type of construction used, especially the internal services to flats, has created a range of problems for existing residents and any attempt for renewal or refurbishment. Balfron’s new windows have an anodized brown metal finish and a slim profile. The sad thing about Balfron's refurbishment is that the borough council (Tower Hamlets) offloaded the tower to a housing association who then chucked out all the residents, including those who owned their flats (by using Compulsory Purchase Orders), in order to sell all of them on the "luxury" open market to fund the refurbishment. Welcome to … We will offer new homes on the Brownfield Estate to residents of the two blocks should they choose to move out. It forms part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing between Chrisp Street Market and the A12 northern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel. New homes will be effectively designed to allow good accessibility for people of all ages. [‘Poplar HARCA: Making Poplar a better place to live’ logo appears. Hidden areas lack passive surveillance opportunities or ownership and house abandoned cars and drug dens. Balfron Tower, Rowlett Street, Poplar, London ©RIBA. [‘Poplar HARCA: Making Poplar a better place to live’ logo reappears]. The Balfron Tower refurbishment aims to augment the iconic Grade II* listed building, improving the thermal performance, reducing its carbon footprint, and modernising its living spaces. It forms part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing between Chrisp Street Market and the A12 northern approach to the Balfron Tower is a 26-storey residential building in Poplar, a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. (5) London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East India Estates Offer, August 2006 What comes of all this? Balfron Tower – for Londonewcastle and Telford Homes – has won the Conversion/Refurbishment Project of the Year, whilst Birch House – for Berkerley Group - was named Multi-Storey Development of the Year (+17 stories). It is 84 metres (276 ft) high and contains 146 homes (136 flats and 10 maisonettes). Balfron Tower prior to refurbishment But upgrading the tower and rethinking the way it connects with its surroundings isn’t just about embodied energy and running costs. The association is legally committed to carry out a full refurbishment of the tower. Balfron Tower is a redevelopment of the iconic Brutalist Grade II* listed building designed by Ernö Goldfinger in Poplar, London E14. London architects Studio Egret West have good experience in the restoration of historic post-war buildings, notably the Grade II* listed Park Hill Estate in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. 1 review of Balfron Tower "Ernö Goldfinger was a member of an important group of European émigré architects that arrived in London in the late 1930's. Balfron Tower, a Grade II Listed 27-storey building, is an iconic symbol of ‘Brutalist’ architecture, designed by the celebrated architect Ernö Goldfinger in the 1960s. The tower was originally built as council-housing, but in 2007 ownership was transferred from Tower Hamlets Council to Poplar Housing and Regeneration Community Association (Poplar HARCA).Poplar HARCA is currently working with PRP architecture and English Heritage to restore the grade two listed building. Londonewcastle joins more than fifty five vintage dealers at Ernö Goldfinger’s Grade II listed Haggerston School, which contains some of Goldfinger’s most dramatic detailing including the famous monocoque ceilings … 'Brutalist'... indeed. Balfron Tower is a 27-storey residential building in Poplar, a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. Now launched, you can register your interest and book an appointment to visit our Marketing Suite and Show Apartments here. Balfron Tower, Rowlett Street, Poplar, London ©RIBA. Standing tall over Poplar in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, the Balfron Tower, completed in 1967, remains one of the best-known works of the modernist architect Ernő Goldfinger. It is one of three housing blocks by Goldfinger on the Brownfield Estate in Poplar, East London, alongside Carradale and Glenkerry House. Advertisement Tower Hamlets transferred its ownership of the Brownfield Estate to housing association Poplar HARCA in December 2007, following a ballot by residents the previous year. The History of the Balfron. It will give real choice to the existing residents, facilitate the building of a real, mixed community and improve the quality of the existing public open spaces, creating quality games and play spaces. This will be more easily controlled and overlooked by residents. (8) Its sell-off is a loss of housing for those who need it most. Completed in 1967 in London, United Kingdom. Balfron Tower and Carradale House form part of a suite of buildings on the Brownfield Estate in Poplar. The tower is a significant ... and to help manage sensitive new development and refurbishment where appropriate to successfully preserve and enhance the quality and character of the area. This will be more easily controlled and overlooked by residents. Balfron originally had chunky timber windows that were painted white, which were largely identical to those on Trellick Tower where an ongoing refurbishment scheme has involved the restoration of the original windows in residential areas. Londonewcastle joins more than fifty five vintage dealers at Ernö Goldfinger’s Grade II listed Haggerston School, which contains some of Goldfinger’s most dramatic detailing including the famous monocoque ceilings he learned from Le Corbusier’s teacher Auguste Perret. In-situ re-wiring is not possible; water from the corroded service pipes seeps through the wiring conduit and can drip through light fittings; the water pipes are also laid within the screed. the internal wiring runs within the steel door frames and floor screed, in many frames the conduit has corroded. In recent years Balfron Tower has been popular with visitors during the annual Open House Weekend. iii) Absence of comment In a recent Freedom of Information request, Tower Hamlets revealed, before the transfer to Poplar HARCA, in November 2007, the tower comprised 99 households on social rent, 36 leaseholders and Balfron Tower – for Londonewcastle and Telford Homes – has won the Conversion/Refurbishment Project of the Year, whilst Birch House – for Berkerley Group - was named Multi-Storey Development of the Year (+17 stories). I made the following changes: Water leaks from corroded pipes often cause problems in Carradale House; because the communal heating boilers are located at the top of the buildings, fuel oil must be pumped from basement storage tanks. The rest of the apartments will have contemporary open plan layouts. By selling some of the homes in the tower blocks, we can create a mixed community of people who want to live in them and facilitate the much-needed investment. Balfron Tower: The area to the south of Carradale and west of Balfron currently consists of neglected concrete structures, hidden sunken areas and unsafe intimidating places that will be remodelled to provide quality public open space. result of refurbishment works.9 However, as stated, Balfron’s application features no such confirmation in accompanying documents. ‘Poplar HARCA: Making Poplar a better place to live’ logo reappears. 6 flats are restored to the original design by Ab Rogers Design. Balfron Tower is 84 metres (276 ft) high and contains 146 homes (136 flats and 10 maisonettes). A couple of colourful doors to two show apartments have opened in Ernö Goldfinger’s 27-storey Balfron Tower in London. As a Grade II* listed building, every design detail has been carefully considered, as has the need to develop the elaborate and innovative arrangement of the 146 apartments. Balfron Tower is a 27-storey housing block in the Poplar district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London, United Kingdom.It forms part of the Brownfield social housing estate close to the northern approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel under the river Thames.Since 1998 Balfron Tower has been a Grade II* listed building. Over the last few years an extensive renovation project has been taking place. Soothing, swooshing synth music repeats on loop. A fresh approach to China tech, For 4 weeks receive unlimited Premium digital access to the FT's trusted, award-winning business news, MyFT – track the topics most important to you, FT Weekend – full access to the weekend content, Mobile & Tablet Apps – download to read on the go, Gift Article – share up to 10 articles a month with family, friends and colleagues, Delivery to your home or office Monday to Saturday, FT Weekend paper – a stimulating blend of news and lifestyle features, ePaper access – the digital replica of the printed newspaper, Integration with third party platforms and CRM systems, Usage based pricing and volume discounts for multiple users, Subscription management tools and usage reporting, Dedicated account and customer success teams. This will help fund the building of the new replacement homes for Balfron and Carradale residents and create a mixed community within these buildings. SEW are the Lead Architect and Landscape Architect for the refurbishment of Balfron Tower, the Grade II* listed brutalist icon in Poplar, East London. [The 3D render overlays the concrete areas on the podium with greenery and circular play spaces linked by curved paths. I have just modified 5 external links on Balfron Tower. ], Improvements will include the provision of a quality play space, landscaping including a water feature and lighting scheme. Designed in 1967 by legendary architect Ernö Goldfinger, the Grade II* listed building was lauded as one of the era’s most innovative examples of residential design. A joint venture company has been formed to refurbish Balfron Tower, a 1960s brutalist Grade II listed building located in Tower Hamlets in East London. In December 2007, following a ballot of residents in 2006, Tower Hamlets Council transferred its ownership of Balfron Tower, Carradale House and the surrounding Brownfield Estate to Poplar HARCA, a housing association. Poplar HARCA believes a transformation is possible for Balfron and Carradale. Balfron Tower dominates this landmark development and is representative of the post-war aspirations for good quality public housing. It was approved in 1965 and completed in 1971, containing 146 flats. This scheme allows for the refurbishment of Balfron and Carradale. At the top of the service tower is the boiler room. The knock-on effects are social, economic and environmental. After more than a decade of controversy over its future, tomorrow marks the start of a new era as the first apartments in the refurbished Grade II*-listed building go on sale. Balfron 2.0: how Goldfinger's utopian tower became luxury flats Erno Goldfinger; critics of Balfron Tower believed that his feverish devotion to brutalism had led him to create a monster. The Balfron Tower by architect Erno Goldfinger is an iconic Brutalist residential high rise located in London’s eastside Poplar borough. Poplar HARCA believes a transformation is possible for Balfron and Carradale. It is unlikely that these service cores could accommodate essential refurbished services because of current health and safety legislation; lift lobbies are in poor condition with the original finishes worn and damaged; rubbish chutes are damaged in many places and are too small, causing regular blockages; sound-transmission between flats is an issue, as many party walls were constructed in lightweight concrete block-work. New fenestration at Balfron Tower, introduced as part of Studio Egret West’s refurbishment of the grade II* building “Surely brutalism now has enough fans that a conserved Balfron could be successfully marketed as a unique opportunity to live in a genuinely iconic brutalist masterpiece,” she said. Many of the flats have extraordinary views over the city, most with dual-aspect. If residents choose to stay, we will refurbish all homes to meet the decent homes standard, and improve heating, lifts, wiring, windows and communal areas with the residents in place. The future’s golden for Balfron By Will Hunter , Elaine Knutt Elaine Knutt Elaine Knutt 2008-10-17T00:00:00 PRP’s proposed refurbishment of Erno Goldfinger’s Balfron Tower in Poplar, east London, is a rare opportunity to bring the block up to today’s housing standards, writes Elaine Knutt The Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards celebrate the UK's best developments, recognising high quality homes, in design and construction. Their concrete construction, detached circulation towers and prominent detailing inside and out easily distinguish the buildings. I was lucky enough to spend a night/day in the Erno Goldfinger-designed and Grade II listed Balfron Tower last weekend. As Balfron Tower, built to provide good quality and affordable housing for the ordinary people of the borough, is set to become a plaything of the hip and wealthy, there are 23,500 households on the waiting list for social housing in Tower Hamlets; 1500 households, officially homeless, are living in temporary accommodation. So, you think its ethical to buy and/or live in the 100% privatised Balfron Tower? Now that all tenants have been re-housed, physically and psychologically, Poplar HARCA has finally applied for planning permission for the refurbishment and has formed a partnership with developer London Newcastle to sell the flats. There are many problems with Balfron and Carradale: [6m Foreboding synth music ends. Balfron Tower was designed by Goldfinger to promote a sense of community living and as such provided a level of ‘sustainable living’ for its occupants. Key Features. Balfron can look bracing, and it's easy to mock the architect and his wife, the Crosse and Blackwell heiress, living for a few months in a tower block before going back home to … (3) David Secombe, ‘Balfron Remembered’, The London Column, September 19, 2014 (4) Will Hunter, ‘The future’s golden for Balfron’, BD Magazine, October 2008. Images of bright sweeping 3D computer render of Balfron and Carradale sitting amongst a landscape of bleached white surrounding buildings and coloured proposed infill blocks, interspersed with some other video of current use]. While the latter is also undergoing a – much lighter touch – refurbishment, it is the deep retrofit happening here that has gained Balfron a touch of notoriety.