Archway Tower ( now Vantage Point ) was a notorious, 18 storey, 1970s office building located above Archway underground station. Built in 1963 the building is a typical example of an expressed in-situ concrete frame with poor quality glazed cladding and a two storey service zone expressed at the top of the building. GRID was appointed to assess redevelopment of the tower for sustainable Private Rental Residential use and kick start the regeneration of the Archway area. Change of use was obtained through office to residential Permitted Development. The existing building was composed of three ‘slabs’ visibly sliding past each other. The cladding was fully glazed to the wide east/west facades but the end walls are of black concrete. To transform this over scaled, foreboding mass, the end walls were reclad in light, reflective material and the other facades in deep, perforated aluminium coffers with floor to ceiling glazing. The cladding also accommodates natural ventilation openings behind perforated panels. Deep reveals to columns and cill reflect the light of a changing sky and the perforated ventilation panels will cast different shadows and patterns. The crowning glory is the conversion of the plant room on the roof into double height amenity space for the residents Now fully occupied, Vantage Point is probably the first purpose designed PRS building in London. The amenity space, business centre and roof terraces are very popular in particular. The new architecture has also transformed the whole area with new developments now surrounding and improvement to local shopfront and public realm. GRID delivered the project with the Main Contractor and developed the interior specification and performance criteria for the Essential Living brand.