Albany Road Architect Elephant and Castle development
Albany Road Architect Development
This new residential development offers three desirable apartments in a fantastic location.
The development consists of an existing brick building from the 1950's with two new extensions; an aluminium mesh clad two storey element to the front corner and a charred timber clad unit on top.
The material palette was inspired by the industrial history and vibrancy of the now disused Surrey canal, an anchor point for Burgess park's location directly opposite the building. The cladding of the top box is in burnt larch, an ancient japanese art of burning timber called Shou Sugi Ban (or Yakisugi), that preserves wood by charing it with fire. This unique technic creates a waterproof, extremely durable, and paradoxically fire-resistant material with a rich, deeply-textured appearance and colours ranging from inky black to silver grey that shimmers in the light.
This marries together with the shimmering silver aluminium mesh that clads the corner extension and which adjoins a fair-faced cast concrete light-well garden that draws light from the South into the basement level. The facades feature full height picture windows to maximise light, with some stunning views across Burgess Park in every apartment that is complemented by the choice of natural materials inside.
Designed by Emulsion, a vibrant London based architecture practice, featured on Dezeen and in Wallpaper magazine for its holistic approach to design, shapes and materials. This year named one of Britain's best emerging architecture practice in the UK by The Architecture Foundation and published in their New Architects 3 publication.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.