The tower replaces an existing 18-storey building on the edge of the post war Clem Atlee Gardens estate in West London. The estate has a diverse range of buildings, including another 18-storey tower, various deck access slab blocks and 4 and 5-storey maisonette blocks planned around communal gardens and garage parking courts. The neighbouring streets are lined with 2-storey Victorian terraced houses. The new 21-storey building doubles the capacity from 68 to 133 homes. To simplify construction we developed an optimum floorplate to accommodate the mix: two 1-beds, two 2-bed 3-person flats and three 2-bed 4-person flats per floor. The plan - two overlapping squares - gives the impression that there are two towers, one in front of the other. This improves the proportions of the facades, and the apparent slenderness of the tower. For the residents inside, 70% of the apartments are dual aspect, and all have corner living spaces with panoramic views. Like the building, the core is planned with square halls instead of more conventional circulation. The flats are served by three lifts and one stair. The fa£ades use two ordering systems. The first, of a domestic scale, consists of portrait windows evenly distributed three metres apart. In front of this, a second structural order of arches and pilasters addresses the scale of the city. Fa£ades are precast concrete. With no need for scaffolding, panels, each 6m wide by 3.3m high, with windows pre-installed in the factory, will be craned into position. The base is distinguished by a barrel-vaulted arcade which establishes a route between the Victorian streets and the estate. In due course, this will also address a future square. Here, brickwork facades bring a human scale to the high-rise. High-rise affordable housing is uncommon. Mindful of this, the design seeks to play down the functional, and to play up the civic and communal character of the building. The project is to begin on site in 2019 for the clients Stanhope, Hammersmith & Fulham JV & Peabody. The practice is working in conjunction with landscape architect Vogt, engineers ARUP, cost consultant Deloitte, planning consultant Gerald Eve, and contractor Higgins Construction.