NOTE, All images for illustrative purposes only.

Located at the junction between Reading old town, Reading train station and the under construction Station Hill Development, proposals at 35-39 Friars Street connect the low-lying, compact grain of the historic town centre with the emerging taller building cluster to the North of the site.

Following the demolition of the adjacent buildings as part of the Station Hill Development, the building is situated on a new, highly visible corner in the heart of Reading. The residential led, mixed use scheme provides 103 residential units over twelve floors, with ground and basement comprising a variety of small, medium and large-scale retail spaces, ranging from incubator styled start up spaces, to the re-provision of over 12,000 sq. ft. for anchor tenant Cosmo.

Informed by the studio’s intimate knowledge of Reading and research-driven approach, the building’s design looks to the site’s rich history and context. Inspired by the reds, oranges, greys and blues of the town centre, the architectural language is inspired by the historic grain of the old town, re-imagined with modern methods of construction and contemporary low carbon materials.

Following the tradition of Readings expressive corner buildings that are often highly accessible, the community driven design, from the new public realm to the various roof terraces and communal outdoor spaces within and on top of the building looks to enhance biodiversity and champion a wellness led approach to live, work and play.

We believe projects thrive when they include successful local enterprises that reflect their diversity, character and spirit. With flexibility at the heart of the scheme, the ground floor is able to accommodate a changing and multifaceted set of businesses that can transform, day to day, from workshop to office to event space, in order to suit the business’s needs and appropriately respond to changing market demands.

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