Project overview
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 is one of the tallest residential developments in Europe, rising 220m above London Docklands. The tower forms part of a vibrant waterside scheme offering studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses with floor-to-ceiling glazing and panoramic views of the capital.
Set within 2.6 acres of landscaped gardens, the development includes a 68-storey steel and glass tower rotated 45 degrees to maximise views and natural light. Residents enjoy exclusive access to a rooftop garden, a private lounge, screening room, spa, and 20m swimming pool, alongside on-site retail and dining spaces.
The bathroom pod solution
Offsite Solutions was awarded an £8m contract by Berkeley Homes to manufacture 947 high-specification bathroom pods for Valiant Tower – the tallest building at South Quay Plaza.
This was the UK’s largest bathroom pod contract for a single residential scheme, and the highest-value project in Offsite Solutions’ history.
The bathroom pod mix included ensuite shower rooms and bathrooms with walk-in and over-bath showers. Each unit was built to luxury standards using a steel-framed construction.
Pod features included:
- Built-in, steam-free mirrored cabinets with recessed LED lighting
- Integrated underfloor heating
- Flush-mounted shower trays
- Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware
- Contemporary brassware and fittings
- Full-height glass shower screens
Large-format marbled tiles were used to create a statement picture wall, with careful pattern matching to maintain the flow of veining. Clients could also choose from three different colour palettes for the surrounding tiles – offering exceptional design flexibility for a factory-built solution.
The customer perspective
“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.”
– Joe Yusuf, Project Manager, Berkeley Homes
“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.”
– Emily Rix, Project Architect, Foster + Partners
Meeting the rising demand for bathroom pods
Offsite Solutions provides a broad and growing range of pod solutions to meet the needs of modern construction. Options include:
- Steel-framed bathroom pods with ceramic tiles for high-end residential, hotels, and student housing
- Robust GRP composite pods for healthcare, care homes and social housing
- Concrete-based steel pods for high-specification wet rooms
- Award-winning demountable pods for restricted-access refurbishment schemes
Speak to our team about your next high-rise residential project
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