Designed by Maccreanor Lavington, 1 & 2 MacFarlane Place is a residential development comprising two tenure-blind buildings. Located within White City, west London, it forms part of the second phase of the Television Centre masterplan, which includes the listed former BBC Television Centre headquarters. The masterplan delivers 511 homes across the wider site developed by Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan.

Urban context and regeneration

Positioned along Wood Lane between an active railway viaduct and Westfield shopping centre, the wedge-shaped brownfield site was previously occupied by a BBC multi-storey car park. The development sits within a layered urban environment shaped by the former BBC Television Centre, Victorian infrastructure, and recent commercial buildings. As part of the wider transformation of White City, MacFarlane Place reconnects former BBC back-of-house areas with the historic street pattern and improves access to public transport and Hammersmith Park. The buildings bridge the scale and character of the Victorian terraced streets of Shepherds Bush with the mid-century Television Centre building and newer developments beyond.

Delivered for Mitsui Fudosan UK and managed by Stanhope for Peabody housing association, 1 & 2 MacFarlane Place provide 142 affordable homes available through London Living Rent and Shared Ownership. The tenure-blind approach integrates the buildings within the wider regeneration of White City, contributing to a mixed residential community and extending access to the evolving neighbourhood.

Site response and massing

The geometry of the constrained plot informs the massing and orientation of the two blocks. To the south, eight maisonettes reflect the scale of the terraced houses opposite, maintaining a familiar street rhythm. To the north, the taller building adopts a slender vertical profile overlooking the railway, responding to infrastructure rather than domestic scale.

Together, the buildings negotiate differences in height and context while maintaining a cohesive architectural language. A raised courtyard garden and west-facing roof terrace provide shared outdoor space, capturing evening light and offering views across the surrounding low-rise neighbourhood. A new pedestrian and cycle route beneath the viaduct strengthens connections to Hammersmith Park and the wider masterplan, improving permeability across the site.

Architectural language and materiality

The architectural expression draws on west London’s tradition of mansion blocks and Victorian warehouses. References to the nearby Grade II-listed Dimco warehouses and the adjacent viaduct inform the choice of brickwork, scale, and detailing.

Both buildings follow a clear tripartite composition of base, middle, and top, with a two-storey base aligned to the height of the viaduct. Their facades share a common character but are not identical; subtle variations in composition and colour introduce distinction between the two blocks. Gridded elevations establish order, while variations in brick pattern and tone introduce depth and shadow across the surface.

The material palette — comprising brickwork, precast sills, copings, and string courses — was selected to provide a durable, low-maintenance exterior. Three brick tones articulate texture and modelling, with lighter tones to outward-facing piers and frames and darker bricks set within recessed areas. When the originally specified brick became unavailable, Belgian brick manufacturer Vandersanden provided three alternative facing bricks with comparable properties. Sample panels were used to test tone combinations and modelling to maintain depth and contrast.

With MacFarlane Place forming a link to later stages of the masterplan, the entrance lobbies continue the facade material language. Green-glazed wave profile Craft tiles from German ceramic tile manufacturer Agrob Buchtal are visible from the street, extending the material continuity from exterior to interior.

Environmental strategy and climate resilience

The environmental approach centres on passive design principles aimed at reducing operational energy demand and mitigating overheating risk. Rather than relying on air conditioning, the design incorporates more than 500 electrically powered, resident-operated external solar control shutters integrated across the facade. The shutters form a prominent element of the elevations, allowing residents to regulate solar gain while maintaining daylight and views. Fully openable windows support natural ventilation, purging internal heat during cooler evening periods.

Homes are fully electric and incorporate zoned underfloor heating powered by air-source heat pumps. The environmental strategy combines passive solar control with decentralised heating systems to support thermal comfort while limiting energy use.

Landscape and biodiversity

The development replaces the former car park with residential buildings and shared landscape. A landscaped communal podium garden, roof terraces, and planted areas introduce greenery to the site and provide residents with access to outdoor space and evening light.

The planting strategy prioritises biodiversity and replaces areas of hard landscaping with pollinator-friendly species. In contrast to the site’s previous condition, the ground plane now supports planting, shade, and seasonal change.

Long-term approach

Sustainability principles were embedded from concept through completion, integrating material efficiency, passive environmental design, and all-electric systems within a constrained urban site. The architecture establishes continuity between Victorian infrastructure and contemporary development, holding its place within White City’s ongoing transformation.

Owen Jowett, Associate at Maccreanor Lavington, reflects: “The success of any residential building lies in its impact on the lives of its residents. In an area undergoing significant change, providing affordable housing for key workers and those in housing need supports the existing community and helps ensure the benefits of change are shared more widely. MacFarlane Place aims to sit comfortably within a complex urban context, contributing to an emerging character while maintaining a connection to London’s architectural history.

The project also demonstrates that passive cooling strategies can be implemented at this scale. Post-occupancy evaluation will provide important insights into how the buildings perform in use and inform future developments.”