When SMC Alsop won the planning permission in December 2006 for the first phase of a strategic framework plan for the 17 acre site in Walsall, they envisioned series of architectural gems that interspersed a quality public realm.

Walsall Waterfront is the hinge between busy Park Street, the main thoroughfare and shopping street with significant living and working communities. The bespoke landscape design acts as the ‘glue’ merging individual components into one coherent entity.

The largest residential building, the “Oysters” positioned either side of the canal, are so called because of their distinctive curved shells. Conceived as a single object sliced through by the canal to protect views along its length.

Nine levels of mixed unit residential apartments, constructed from concrete frames with patterned black glazing to the front elevations and black and white striped composite cladding panels, sit above a double height ground level.

Each level changing profile to achieve the curved rear elevations with a balcony along its curved length. These balconies are divided by mesh clad portal frames carrying coloured Plexiglas fins which articulate the curvature of the buildings.

At ground, a small glass enclosure gives access to a pair of solid clad lift shafts rising up through the building.

PROJECT: Walsall Waterfront, Walsall UK
CLIENT: Urban Splash
COMPLETION: 2007

SMC Alsop

Parkgate Studio
41 Parkgate Road
London SW11 4NP
P. +44 (0)20 7978 7878
F. +44 (0)20 7978 7879
info@smcalsop.com
www.smcalsop.com

Source and images credit: SMC Alsop

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