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Ealing Filmworks provides 209 low-carbon homes overlooking a central square surrounded by retail and an eight-screen cinema
Located in the heart of Ealing Town Centre, Ealing Filmworks sits across a 2.6-acre site which was previously an under-used brownfield site. The mixed-use development scheme consists of an infill within an existing urban block with three prominent frontages along New Broadway, Bond Street and Mattock Lane.
It consists of four distinct buildings of varying heights, containing retail units on the ground floor and residential on the upper levels, which flank a separate block for the new multi-screen cinema, the biggest outside of London’s West End.
The gateway to the new progression, the historic Art Deco façade of the former Empire Cinema, designed by John Stanley Beard in 1934, has been preserved and restored. Meanwhile, where the progression faces the street, the façade has been designed as a contextual reaction to the surrounding buildings while incorporating a subtly different language, depending on the character of the street.
At the center of the progression is a new audience with a pedestrian connection connecting New Broadway, Bond Street and Pitzhanger Manor/Walpole Park. Here, red brick and artificial stone are combined with a palette of fresher materials, adding contrasting dark blue brick. Green glazed brick inserts and laser-cut bronze-colored cladding with a three-dimensional geometric pattern.
The original entrance to Walpole Picturehouse, previously to the south of the scheme, has also been restored and reintegrated into the new public realm.
The progression has been designed according to the highest sustainability criteria and circular economy principles, allowing a relief of more than 26% in CO2 emissions compared to Part L through a combined formula of heat and power that generates electrical energy to force all common areas. The structures procedure diverted 90% of demolition, excavation and structure waste from the landfill.
Ealing has long been synonymous with British cinema. The former Art Deco Empire cinema, designed by John Stanley Beard, is a key heritage asset and a milestone for Filmworks’ progress. From the beginning, we took care to sensitively repair and painstakingly integrate the preserved façade of the cinema construction with the new one. advertising premises on the ground floor and residential premises on the upper part. This required extensive coordination with building conservation specialists and detailed definition of the interface between the existing elevation and the new construction. The use of artificial stone rain cladding and black glazed bricks complements the style of the cinema. Existing stoneware and masonry, as well as open steel frames that mimic existing railings. The newly incorporated façade is further enhanced by sophisticated uplighting at night.
Development radiates from the central public domain. A lively mix of uses, adding bars and restaurants, as well as a double-height lobby leading to the new cinema, border the courtyard to create active facades. We have also created a new north-south pedestrian link off Ealing Town, which is Grade II listed. Hall connecting New Broadway and Pitzhanger Manor, as well as a new east-west link from Bond Street to the new public square, permeability and connectivity within Ealing city centre.
To celebrate the region’s rich cinematic history, we articulated the façade of the new cinema building with steel cladding with a perforated pattern inspired by Art Deco, a consistent development. During the day, the building looks like a box of golden and ochre light, which changes during the day according to the fall of the day. The steel panels are also part of a multi-layered building envelope, which contributes to climate and acoustic control.
The four individual residential blocks vary in tonality according to their respective context ranging from muted browns with dogtooth brick detailing to the block behind the listed façade through to red and orange stocks with cream GRC details on Bond Street and yellow stocks to the residential street to the south.
In collaboration with PLACE Design and Planning, a detailed landscape design was developed to create a series of unique, well-delineated areas in the public realm and obviously delineate routes in and out of the site. Sculptural and playable elements are incorporated to satisfy desires. of citizens and visitors and create a dynamic space that encourages play.
The development is designed to high sustainability standards and according to circular economy principles. All homes are designed to meet Lifetime Homes standards. The development achieves higher than a 26 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared with Part L 2010 by improving thermal insulation and air tightness of the buildings along with a combined heat and power (CHP) system which both generates electricity that helps power all communal areas and the heat generated provides hot water and heating to all homes. There is also a mix of roof mounted solar panels and green roofs. The construction process saw diversion of 90% demolition, excavation and construction waste from landfill and the project achieved BREEAM Very Good.
Jim Arthur, Director, T. P. Bennett
St George, a proud member of the Berkeley Group, is a team of holistic place-makers, focused on the regeneration of brownfield land. By working in partnership with others and local councils, we create thriving places where communities thrive and where other people of all ages and backgrounds thrive. can a wonderful quality of life.
We are very proud of Filmworks, which now welcomes more than two hundred new homeowners and a diversity of restaurants, bars and services, demonstrating the hugely positive effects that can be achieved through patient investment and placemaking.
It was important for us to create a high-quality new addition to the town centre, which celebrates and reflects the area’s history and provides a mix of genuinely useful and welcoming amenities for the local community. The architectural approach was key to achieving these aims and creating a place of real character and interest.
As the former home of the Forum Theatre, designed by John Stanley Beard, an English architect known for designing cinemas in and around London, it is imperative to us that the revival of Filmworks sensitively incorporates many of the original features of cinema with art deco and 1920s features throughout.
Special care has been taken to fix the art deco façade of the residential project. This included the restoration of the 8 iconic colonnades to create a grand entrance. No detail is too small, the concierge of the Bogart House also presents one of the original chandeliers of the Forum Theatre, which has been restored to its former glory.
Retaining a unique Art Deco atmosphere, Filmworks is now an exciting new residential and leisure destination in Ealing city center that has redeveloped a history-steeped domain into an exciting new lifestyle precinct; complementing the neighboring progression of Dickens Yard also carried out by St George.
Piers Clanford, President, St. George & St. Joseph
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