AWW designed and successfully delivered planning permission for the Foundry Quarter in Reading. The scheme is primarily residential, comprised of apartments targeting the private rental sector.
The site is located within five minute walk of Reading Central Station and has a total of 430 apartments in four blocks extending in height from five to a maximum of 12 storeys. Reiterating our collaborative design process, the scheme evolved in response to feedback received from the Reading Borough Council and other stakeholders. Through this collaboration, the design team explored several options, and continually referred to the constraints, opportunities and vision of the original concept.
The buildings are designed around a series of communal and semi-private courtyards with an emphasis on green landscaping and connection to the surrounding area. Below ground parking allows the spaces between the buildings to be landscaped for both residents and the local community.
The site is bounded by major dual carriage highways, existing pre-war housing and more recent 1980s low rise housing. An industrial area sits on the north and will form another opportunity for the regeneration of this central Reading location.
The scheme will bring back into use a largely redundant city centre site that is currently plagued by anti-social behaviour. It will also act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area up to Reading Central Station and the opportunities Crossrail will bring to this location.