Located on an island site adjacent to a modern open space, this controversial proposal has been praised and supported by CABE, GLA and Camden’s planning department. Designed to lessen any overshadowing and wind impact on the users of the park, the result is a 24 storey PRS tower and a 5/7 storey mixed tenure, affordable housing building which contains ground floor retail and a dedicated community centre. Located above a Swiss Cottage London Underground station, adjacent to a new park, two theatres and a market square, the site had been deemed appropriate for a tall building by the local planning authority. The existing office building on site has no retail uses, no level access and no active frontages. It is now vacant. The replacement is the catalyst for tying together public buildings to the north and south to create what is, in effect, a cultural quarter. A low park side affordable housing building, with retail at ground floor, contrasts with a tall, private rental tower with reception, meeting rooms, gym, kitchen and club rooms at high level. Despite the immediate adjacency of the park the development sustains its own amenity spaces. In addition to balconies and roof terraces there are roof top gardens, winter gardens and indoor recreation spaces. The communal areas of the PRS includes the 24th floor with great views over all of London. A new connection to the underground station has been designed and there is an extensive public realm proposal which includes café terraces overlooking the park, where there was once substations and car park ventilation, and the reorganisation of the market. The architecture is of framed concrete and terracotta precast elements carefully proportioned to express the massing of the building and adjoining buildings.