Situated on the Isle of Dogs, 1.5 Canary Wharf aims to create a new urban typology for social housing in London using Canary Wharf as a study for material reuse. Due to the new ‘work from home’ era and decentralisation of large corporations’ headquarters, Canary Wharf has been operating at a 10% of its in-house capacity. Since the office block’s urban footprint is too large to be adaptively repurposed as flats, material reuse is justifiable. Housing and studio spaces are proposed, along with a dual function boatyard and prefabrication facility which is situated on an urban slipway connecting to the Thames and Millwall Dock for material transport.

In response to the housing crisis and recent material shortage in the UK, One Canada Square is used as a key study. Marble is used for the floors and walls; stainless steel from the façade is implemented into the exterior; and steel beams from the underflooring create a superstructure. A grid system is used within the schematics to create open central streets that divide the living and working spaces. This grid system is navigated via elevated public walkways with communal terraces. 1.5 Canary Wharf isolates key views back towards Canary Wharf; back towards the material context from which the scheme was constructed.