One Ashley Road Building: A Landmark of Regenerative Mixed-Use Architecture in Tottenham Hale

Gateway Architecture for a New Urban District in London

One Ashley Road Building, designed by Alison Brooks Architects, stands as a defining gateway to the large-scale regeneration of Tottenham Hale in London, United Kingdom. Developed for Related Argent, the project anchors the Heart of Hale masterplan, transforming a former post-industrial, traffic-dominated transport interchange into a vibrant, walkable, and socially connected urban neighborhood.

Completed in 2023 and spanning approximately 20,600 square meters, One Ashley Road is conceived as a dense live-work-shop complex that integrates residential living, commercial activity, public space, and landscape design into a cohesive architectural framework. Positioned near the Walthamstow Wetlands and the Lea Valley waterways, the building establishes a strong dialogue between urban infrastructure and natural systems.

Mixed-Use Density Rooted in Place

The scheme comprises two residential towers framing a perimeter courtyard block, accommodating 183 homes above three active ground and podium levels of retail, incubator offices, and community-oriented commercial spaces. This vertical stacking of uses reinforces the idea of mixed-use urban density while maintaining a human-scaled public realm at street level.

At the base, a colonnaded frontage addresses the Tottenham Hale transport hub, creating a civic threshold and a clear “front door” to the wider regeneration area. A new tree-lined civic square marks the prow of the site, while a pedestrian passage draws people into the historic Berol Factory Courtyard, strengthening physical and social connectivity across the neighborhood.

Architectural Form Inspired by Industrial Heritage

One Ashley Road’s architectural identity is deeply informed by its industrial context, particularly the adjacent Berol House, once part of the Eagle Pencil Company Factory. The building’s expressive, carved massing and faceted geometry reinterpret this heritage through a contemporary lens.

The outer envelope is defined by a rich orange brick skin, establishing material continuity with London’s industrial past, while a contrasting inner layer of shimmering metal panels introduces lightness and visual depth. Inspired by the graphic colors and hexagonal motifs of the iconic Berol Eagle Pencil, these abstract patterns animate the façade and generate a distinctive skyline presence. The pronounced verticality of the towers enhances the building’s role as a landmark within the evolving Tottenham Hale cityscape.

Public Realm, Courtyards, and Elevated Gardens

The stepped massing strategy plays a critical role in shaping both the public and private realms. At podium level, a secluded residents’ garden and co-working space create a calm retreat above the activity of the street. Higher up, a south-facing communal roof garden on the seventh floor overlooks the new civic square, offering expansive views and shared outdoor amenities.

Internally, the courtyard elevations depart from the solidity of the brick exterior, featuring faceted metal cassette panels that reflect daylight deep into the block. This luminous inner façade transforms the heart of the building into a shimmering veil of light, enhancing spatial quality and visual comfort for residents.

Engineering Ingenuity and Site Constraints

A defining challenge of the project was the presence of two Victoria Line tunnels running directly beneath the site. Rather than treating this as a limitation, the design leverages the constraint as a generator of form. The two towers and their piling systems are strategically positioned on either side of the tunnels, carefully addressing structural loading, acoustic performance, and vibration control associated with London Underground infrastructure.

This precise coordination resulted in a stepped base that recesses to the north, creating a series of communal green terraces. These landscaped platforms provide residents with access to fresh air, natural light, and panoramic views, reinforcing the project’s commitment to wellbeing and environmental integration.

A Contemporary Model for Urban Regeneration

One Ashley Road exemplifies a new generation of mixed-use architecture in London, where density, identity, and public life are carefully balanced. By weaving together housing, employment, retail, landscape, and infrastructure, the project contributes to the transformation of Tottenham Hale into a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable urban district.

Rooted in local history yet unmistakably contemporary, the building demonstrates how architectural expression, material innovation, and urban strategy can work together to create a meaningful sense of place within large-scale regeneration.

All photographs are works of  Paul Riddle