South Quay Plaza, Berkeley Homes

Project:                        South Quay Plaza, London Docklands 
Sector:                         Residential  
Client:                          Berkeley Homes    
Main Contractor:        Berkeley Homes   
Architect:                    Foster + Partners     
Pod Type:                    Steel-framed ensuite shower rooms and   bathrooms   
Number of pods:         947    

The Project

Designed by Foster + Partners, South Quay Plaza on Marsh Wall in the historic London Docklands is one of the tallest residential schemes in Europe, reaching a height of 220m. This landmark development offers a selection of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses with waterside views, set in 2.6 acres of landscaped gardens.

The slender, 68-storey steel and glass tower has an iconic stepped design and will be built at a 45-degree rotation to maximise water views and dual aspects.

Each apartment has floor-to-ceiling glazing with spectacular and uninterrupted views of the city’s skyline. The scheme has London’s highest communal roof garden, a residents’ club lounge, screening room, 20m swimming pool and spa facilities. South Quay Plaza also features retail and restaurant space, creating a vibrant, mixed-use and sustainable waterside development.

The Bathroom Pod Solution

The £8m contract was awarded to Offsite Solutions by Berkeley Homes for the offsite manufacture of more than 900 high specification bathrooms for Valiant Tower at South Quay Plaza.

The contract was the UK’s largest bathroom pod contract for a single residential scheme and the highest value project to be awarded to Offsite Solutions in the history of the company.

Offsite Solutions manufactured a mix of ensuite shower rooms and bathrooms with walk-in and/or over-bath showers.

The steel-framed bathroom pods for the luxury apartments feature:

• Built-in steam-free mirrored cabinets with recessed LED lighting
• Integrated underfloor heating
• Flush-mounted shower trays
• Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware
• Contemporary fittings
• Full-height glass shower screens.

Large-format tiles in a marbled design create a striking picture wall. These tiles have a high level of detailing and are carefully pattern matched to allow continuation of the marbled veining. Clients then had a choice of three colour palettes for the complementary tiles which demonstrated an unprecedented level of flexibility for factory-built bathrooms.

The Customer Perspective

Joe Yusuf, Project Manager, Berkeley Homes:

“The use of offsite construction for the bathrooms gave us programme certainty, better quality and improved logistics. We did not have to procure and install all the individual elements that make up a bathroom, which meant fewer trades on site. This was far more efficient, particularly for health and safety, and generated programme improvements.”

“Offsite Solutions is a British manufacturer, so we benefited from fast response times and a greater understanding of the UK market. Their team was very helpful and proactive from the outset, with a can-do attitude to address any challenges. We had a number of visits to their factory which is well run and a good set up.”

Emily Rix, Project Architect, Foster + Partners:

“This project suited bathroom pods very well as we limited the number of bathroom types to four. In our experience, pods are often superior in quality compared to site-based bathroom construction.”

“Taking an offsite approach avoids having a number of different trades on site and at different times. We had a really good relationship with Offsite Solutions. The design time was very constrained, but their team ensured a fast and efficient turnaround with everything we needed.”

Meeting the Rising Demand for Bathroom Pods

Offsite Solutions offers a comprehensive and expanding range of bathroom pods to suit different building types and applications. Options include steel-framed pods with ceramic tiled finishes for high-end apartments, student residences and hotels; robust and low maintenance GRP composite pods for student accommodation, care homes, social housing and healthcare; steel and concrete pods for high specification wet rooms, and award-winning demountable GRP pods for ease of installation in refurbishment schemes.