Residential Properties Located at 3 and 15 West Lane
New Aparthotel Buildings in Canary Wharf Blend History and Modernity
In the heart of the Wood Wharf masterplan, HTA Design has completed two residential buildings and a landscaped public square for Canary Wharf Group. These buildings, located between Union Square and Bellevue Place, mark the first in a new offering from CWG's build-to-rent arm, Vertus.
The 3 & 15 West Lane aparthotel buildings, designed for short and long stays, sit above ground-floor retail and restaurant units. Their key design elements include a predominantly brick façade with pre-cast concrete detailing, inspired by the historic warehouse architecture of the former Isle of Dogs docklands and New York loft-style vernacular. This reflects the industrial past while shaping the area's residential future.
The buildings incorporate window reveals varying in depth by orientation to manage solar gain and maximize natural light. At street level, they have retail and restaurant units with an active frontage that encourages year-round engagement with the public realm.
Inside, the aparthotel residences offer shared amenities such as lounges, coworking areas, private dining rooms, a gym, and three roof terraces. The interior design draws inspiration from the whimsical aesthetics of filmmaker Wes Anderson, featuring bold patterned wallpapers and distinctive tactile materials like rippled fabric walls—blending retro character with contemporary style.
The overall setting is a car-free, pedestrian-friendly zone with pocket parks, independent shops, and a landscaped public square (Union Square), integrating the buildings into the broader Wood Wharf masterplan focused on creating an active, community-oriented urban environment. Union Square, situated at the foot of the buildings, is a meanwhile space with a minimum lifespan of five years.
All apartments are equipped with efficient services that support low-carbon living, and the buildings have achieved BREEAM 'Excellent'. The public realm provides active frontage and year-round engagement with the wider neighbourhood.
The sustainability strategies for the project were developed by HTA's Sustainable Futures team. The surrounding landscape of Union Square supports biodiversity and improves connectivity across the estate. The schemes signal a broader transformation of the Wharf, aiming to create a socially and environmentally responsive place to live and work.
In summary, the key features and design elements of HTA Design's 3 & 15 West Lane aparthotel buildings are:
- Brick and pre-cast concrete façades echoing historic dockland warehouses.
- Window designs that optimize light and solar control.
- Ground-floor retail and restaurants supporting active street life.
- Interiors combining Wes Anderson-inspired colorful and tactile design elements.
- Shared amenities including co-working, dining, gyms, and roof terraces.
- Situated in a car-free neighborhood with landscaped public spaces promoting community interaction and pedestrian movement.
- Union Square features a hard-surfaced events area, bleacher seating, edible planting, and an informal play space within naturalistic planting.
These new buildings, part of HTA's ongoing collaboration with Canary Wharf Group, complement nearby Eden Dock and contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Wharf.
- By implementing low-carbon living services in all apartments and achieving BREEAM 'Excellent', the 3 & 15 West Lane aparthotel buildings in Canary Wharf demonstrate a commitment to sustainable living and a responsible approach to real-estate investing.
- The incorporation of shared amenities like lounges, coworking areas, private dining rooms, a gym, and three roof terraces in the home-and-garden design of the aparthotel residences caters to various lifestyle needs, fostering a sense of community within the building.
- The adaptive reuse of historical warehouse architecture and the inclusion of Wes Anderson-inspired interior design in the 3 & 15 West Lane aparthotel buildings showcase a blend of old and new, merging sustainable-living principles with the modern appeal of the finances and developments within Canary Wharf.
