Mowat & Company’s Bermondsey Island development creates 13 units of affordable housing on a prominent site close to Tower Bridge in London. Mowat & Company won the project through an Architecture Foundation competition. The challenge was to create a new model of desirable yet affordable accommodation that was distinctive but at the same time responded to the local context. The design solution arose from the planning constraints of the site and the site’s designation as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Massing the building as five storeys of accommodation above a ground floor commercial unit created a new visual landmark and allowed the building to respond to the larger neighbouring buildings. Mowat & Company created a distinctive identity for the building through the use of materials including a quilted blue/black tilebrick from Ibstock, white render and white powder-coated steel balconies. Bermondsey Island has won several awards including a RIBA Regional Award. ‘The architect has created an excellent standard of accommodation with 100% dual aspect flats with generous internal floorspace and external terraces, and thoughtful layouts.’ Gordon Adams, Senior Planner, LB Southwark 2012