Fish Island, designed by Henley Halebrown, is a mixed-use development in Hackney Wick, East London. Situated along the Hertford Union Canal, the project brings together student housing, affordable creative workspaces, and new public spaces on a post-industrial brownfield site. It aims to both preserve and reinterpret the site’s industrial character while supporting the area’s vibrant creative community.
Designing for social interaction and community
The development is composed of two interlocking wings organized around generous communal courtyards. It accommodates 330 student rooms and over 4,500 square meters of workspace and public programming, including space for the local nonprofit Stour Trust. Henley Halebrown’s spatial arrangement promotes interaction across users through shared entrances, active ground floors, and visual permeability across uses—fostering a sense of community between students, artists, and the public.
Sustainability rooted in material expression
The project embraces a low-tech, fabric-first approach to sustainability. Its robust brick facades, constructed with Michelmersh Freshfield Lane bricks, contribute to long-term durability and thermal performance. Precast concrete elements by Techrete—used in lintels, sills, and copings—further reduce reliance on complex materials. Windows by AluK, double-glazed with Guardian Glass, ensure high thermal efficiency and acoustic performance.
By emphasizing passive design strategies, durable materials, and minimal finishes, the building supports low operational carbon and long-term adaptability. Brise-soleil elements and deeply recessed openings mitigate overheating while preserving natural light.
Supporting inclusive growth through design
Fish Island plays a role in resisting the displacement pressures commonly associated with regeneration. Affordable workspaces are secured in perpetuity for local creatives and graduates, while spaces for community groups provide a foothold for civic engagement. The project is shaped not only as a place to live and work, but as a platform for shared authorship in the area's ongoing evolution.
