The mixed-use development project for Modern Wharf by OMA has just been approved by the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Planning Committee. OMA’s proposal was created for the developer U+I is created to be built on a 2.4-hectare brownfield site on Greenwich Peninsula in London facing the historic Greenwich and the millennial O2 Arena.
“Our proposition for Morden Wharf is one with little ego, a surrender to the existing context that aims to reconcile the past with the future. Architecture doesn’t exist for its own sake but to frame the public space in-between.” Reinier de Graaf, OMA Partner
Courtesy of Pixelflakes
OMA’s design respects the site’s industrial parts, which appears in its preservation of the existing warehouse and adapting it to new uses—it will be a house for small enterprises and creative businesses. With their design, OMA seeks to “maximize the potential of the riverfront for public use and access”, so the project will feature a 1.6-hectare public park; the Modern Park along the Thames’ edge.
Courtesy of Pixelflakes
Designed pre-pandemic, an immediately accessible riverfront public park and renovated Thames Path for all residents of the peninsula working from home or otherwise has even greater significance than envisaged.” Carol Patterson, Director-in-Charge.
Courtesy of Pixelflakes
Once completed, OMA’s Modern Wharf will provide some 1,500 new homes spread across 12 high-quality, tenure-blind residential buildings. 35% of these homes will be affordable, including a mix of shared ownership and London Affordable Rent. This development project will also offer about 700 new permanent job opportunities.
Courtesy of OMA
Courtesy of OMA
“We care very much about the legacy that we deliver in the Borough. 25 years after the demolition of the sugar factory our proposal will bring this part of Greenwich back to life and we think it is the time for Modern Wharf to be reborn.” Richard Upton, U+I CEO.
- Project: Morden Wharf
- Timeline: Construction start: 2012; Planning permit: 2021
- Client: U+I
- Address: Morden Wharf, Located off Tunnel Avenue, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
- Program: Masterplan Residential 151,000m2/ Employment and Retail 17,300m2/ Total 168,300m2/ Park 16,000m2
- Partner in Charge: Reinier de Graaf
- Project Director: Carol Patterson
- Project Architect: Michalis Hadjistyllis
- Team: Samir Abillama, Anton Anikeev, Andre Backlund, Zuzanna Binda, Stephanie Bigelow, Fabrizio Esposito, Federica Giorgetta, Eve Hocheng, Alicia Krzywinska, Konstantinos Papasimakis, Xaveer Roodbeen, Lukasz Skalec, Andrea Verni, Camilla Wisborg