Strata SE1 is a 148 metre high 43-storey residential tower that forms a dynamic new addition to the London skyline. The first building in the world with integral wind turbines, it sets a new benchmark in terms of environmental strategy. The tallest residential building in Central London, Strata SE1 is also the first significant development to be delivered as part of the regeneration of the Elephant & Castle. It will deliver 408 high quality private and affordable residences to the area and will be home to more than 1,000 residents. 20 of the 98 affordable homes are reserved exclusively for residents relocated from the nearby Heygate Estate. The client’s brief challenged the design team to develop a high-rise residential concept that would kick start the Elephant & Castle regeneration and embrace energy efficiency, targeting an EcoHomes assessment rating of “excellent”. Located in one of the Mayor of London’s Energy Action Areas, sustainability has been key to the evolution of Strata SE1 from the outset of initial design back in January 2005. The three wind turbines are expected to produce 50 Mwh (Mega watt hours) of electrical power per year for the landlords supply, approximately 8% of the building’s total energy consumption.
Strata SE1 is designed for sustainable urban living. Features include: • Bespoke high performing façade with an air permeability leakage rate that is 50% better than current building regulations • Whole house ventilation system with heat recovery to each apartment (SAP Appendix Q compliant) • Low energy lighting in all landlord areas and 40% of the lighting in each apartment • Absence and presence lighting control system to all landlord areas. • Car park lighting control provided with motion detection that reduces lighting by 50% when there is no movement • 96% recycling of all waste material generated during the construction stage • Designed to connect ‘day one’ to the planned Elephant & Castle Multi Utility Services Company (MUSCo) district system which will provide heat and electricity from Biomass CHP energy centres, grey water to all toilets for all affordable units within Strata SE1 and a connection to the site wide fibre network, providing high speed data access to all residents. Independent analysis by Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited (IES) has compared CO2 emissions from Strata SE1 against the Building Regulations 2006 Part L2 targets. The result demonstrates that Strata SE1 (with the connection to the MUSCo system in place) will achieve a predicted 73.5% reduction in CO2 emissions when compared against the Building Regulations benchmark. This independent analysis also concludes that Strata SE1 is predicted to achieve 2050 CO2 target emissions. Strata SE1’s sustainable design means that energy costs per apartment will be substantially less than the typical UK housing average significantly reducing residents and tenants occupational costs.
