To help us give you the best experience possible, please accept all cookies. Accept all Manage settings Practice Projects A landmark development for Plymouth Sugar Quay Location Plymouth Client Sutton Harbour Group Brief history The site is in historic Sutton Harbour, the last departure point of the Mayflower and Plymouth's original port. Today, Sutton Harbour is a busy fishing port and 450 berth marina. The Sugar Quay site has a rich planning history, the most prominent being a proposed new BBC broadcasting facility granted planning in 2006. Although construction began, it was never completed and permission eventually lapsed. In more recent years, a number of pre-application schemes have been brought forward to test the site's potential. Project vision We wanted to deliver a design that would become a pivotal landmark on the harbourside. The site is in an area designated for tall buildings, however, our approach was not to create a single tall element, but to take a more fluid approach and have aspects of the development take height precedent from the adjacent buildings. For example, the south east corner will be raised to match the height of the Salt Quay House development to the south. From this point, the height will increase from 10 storeys to 20 storeys as the development moves north. This will minimise any overshadowing issues. Adding value The 0.57 hectare site boasts unrestricted views of the harbour and Plymouth Sound. Our design seeks to maximise views out, so the orientation of the building has been developed in direct response to these unique vantage points. With pedestrian access possible from both Sutton Road and the path around the harbour, we have also considered improvements to the public realm in our design. Harbour view The form expresses a visual link in heights between the adjacent buildings, rising up to the pinnacle to the north of the site. The stem reaches out to the harbour to form a connection with the water, pulling the maritime activities into the site. This allows generous spaces to be created between the existing residential building to the south and the office building to the north. View from Exeter Street The northern pinnacle stands as an urban marker, clearly identifying the eastern gateway to the historic harbour of Plymouth. The façade to the roadside is formed of triangles, evoking images of sails and the history of Sutton Harbour. The resultant seamless, highly machined sail wraps the building against the street. Towards the water, the façade is opened and more transparent; broken with large windows and balconies. “Sugar Quay represents a step change for Sutton Harbour and Plymouth. This is a bold architectural intervention that signals confidence and will serve as a catalyst for development to the east of the city centre. We are pleased to be at the forefront of this time of change.” Ian Sanders, Project Director Ground floor The ground floor is pierced by a central spine, providing entrances for residents from the waterside and from the street. Essential building services and utilities are located in the centre of the building to allow commercial/ retail/ restaurants to face the waterside and street, contributing towards a vibrant public realm. Upper floor The spine is repeated on every floor, breaking the mass of the residential building above into two right angled forms separated by glass, culminating in the movement of the residents' panoramic glass lifts. This innovative approach to the layout ensures that every apartment has a waterside view from its own private balcony. Related projects The Metropolitan: Battersea Police Station Finzels Reach Phase 1 Beechwood Park, Stow-on-the-Wold Back to top London, Bristol & Plymouth info@aww-uk.com © AWW Privacy Cookies Disclaimer Site by Ten4