Open House London is a chance to enter some of London’s best buildings for free, this year two of Frederick Gibberds buildings are open and available to walk around, Pullman Court and Fullwell Cross Library.

Pullman Court

Frederick Gibberd Architects were appointed to design one of the chief examples of International Modern style developments in Britain, located in Streatham Hill. The design of 218 flats with a variety of one- to four-room units are organised over three blocks bound by a belt of mature trees to diminish noise disruption. As a consequence, to the housing shortage, the attractiveness of communal housing schemes and wider availability of reinforced concrete and steel, Gibberd were presented with an opportunity to provide a design with an awakening diversity of planning and detailing. The two blocks are organised in order to capitalize on natural daylight of varied massing and scale nested by central courtyards interspersed with lawns and mature trees. The scheme is sensitive to landscape in the preservation of existing trees and the way in which the design encourages outdoor space overlooking the covered reservoir of the Lambeth waterworks. The elongated balcony walkways accentuate the robust impact of the five and seven storey blocks and bestows an enjoyable living environment influenced by the Bauhaus movement.  In 1995 the external fabric of the buildings was expansively refurbished and notably cultivated from a Grade II to Grade II* Listed development.

Fullwell Cross Library

Frederick Gibberd were appointed as architects to Ilford council for a high-profile scheme on a prominent site overlooking the Fullwell Cross roundabout. The design evolves over a decade from an original proposal for an Olympic-sized swimming pool, with the scope increased to include a library which eventually becomes the focus of the scheme. This is a striking circular design surmounted by a radial fluted concrete shell roof rising from a clerestory of arched windows illuminating the central space. The building is listed as Grade II.

The £17 million project at 3 Burnt Oak Broadway for Catalyst Housing Group is rapidly gathering pace, with groundworks now underway. The project is being delivered by Rydon Construction Ltd with Gibberd acting as executive architects. Foundations completed, work moves towards the erection of the superstructure, as the project quickly begins to take shape. The scheme, which consists of 76 high spec residential units as well as over 800m2 of retail space will be a landmark new development to Burnt Oak Town Centre, and a fantastic addition to the exceptional portfolio of residential projects worked on by Gibberd.