Bacton Low Rise, Camden

The Bacton Low Rise Estate, Gospel Oak, was built in the 1960s. The physical fabric of the estate deteriorated to the point that LB Camden embarked on comprehensive regeneration of the housing and surrounding spaces. However, the community spirit has remained unusually strong and led the design process through engagement with the residents and client team. For the external spaces, overarching concerns included designing out antisocial behaviour and to create play space that was safe, manageable and designed specifically for this community. Another characteristic of this project was an insistence on a decant policy that ensured residents would only move home once. The neighbourhood is geared towards family life, with a combination of pedestrian friendly streets, front gardens and secure communal courtyards.

Client

London Borough of Camden

Date

2013 to 2017

Team

Karakusevic Carson Architects / Momentum, engineer / Quod, planning / Rolton, engineer