On the Banks of London's River Thames, Arbor is the inaugural building in PLP Architecture and Native Land's Bankside Yard, London's newest cultural neighborhood and the UK's first major fossil fuel-free mixed-use development. More than a mere office building, the hyper-mixed nature of the masterplan shapes a concept for a 24-hour interwoven neighborhood that blends work and city life, art and technology, culture, and nature.
Providing a one-of-a-kind workplace, the building is surrounded and activated by eight diverse public spaces and three cultural areas. Additionally, fourteen historic railway arches at the end of London's high line have been creatively reused to include various retail, cultural, and public functions, including designated LGBTQIA+ spaces. Various initiatives were implemented during the construction of Arbor to engage positively with the local community and the site. These include collaborating with local charities for riverside cleaning, youth mentoring, and fundraising.
Fostering dynamic interactions between workers, clients, and locals, the building's "urban room" at street level and shared landscaped atria on the 2nd and 18th floors offer spaces for meeting and exchange between office and city. Expanses of glazing measuring 3-by-3 meters and extending up to 6 meters in areas afford dramatic city panoramas and plenty of light. At the same time, a smart self-adjusting closed cavity façade minimizes the building's environmental load.
Meanwhile, terraces on alternating floors create transitional zones between outside and inside, providing semi-outdoor workspaces with varied microclimates.
Sustainability:
All-electric and powered by renewable energy, the carbon net zero Arbor uses the wider masterplan's 5th generation energy system. In this system, each building within Bankside Yards will extract or reject energy into the low-temperature 5th-generation energy network running through the development, employing heat pump technology to exchange ambient thermal energy. Estimates suggest the system could be 50-60% more efficient on a scale not yet seen in the UK than a 3rd generation network typically used.
Finally, construction was powered via a green/renewable energy tariff to minimize carbon emissions, saving over 380 tonnes of C02 (e), equivalent to 588 acres of forest land annually. A biodiverse green roof encourages local wildlife and promotes ecology.
Human-Centric Technology:
Embedded throughout the scheme, smart workplace technology offers seamless control for employees and visitors thanks to a building app developed by Smart Spaces that uses QR codes. Supporting this, Arbor has been awarded Wiredscore Platinum due to the exceptional standards for the quality of its wired infrastructure, resilience, and wireless network.
A contactless entry experience is controlled via mobile phone, eliminating the need for security passes. The app also allows occupants to adjust temperature and lighting levels throughout the building, thus supporting optimal comfort and productivity. The app also allows occupants to connect with the local community through updates on local events and news, thus fostering a sense of community within Bankside Yards.
