A vibrant waterside development in Stratford East London, which has taken 26 acres of historic London and transformed it into a ‘sweet’ mix of residential and commercial spaces. Captivating, collaborative, community focused. Set amongst the waterways of the River Lea and Three Mills Wall River it’s both serene and idyllically positioned to benefit from excellent transport routes. ‘Sugar House Island is within easy reach of eight stations, seven lines, five bus routes and two dedicated cycle routes for easy access to the city.’

The masterminds behind this ‘truly mixed-use neighbourhood’ have left no aspect unlooked. It has been designed with intelligence, creativity, sustainability and a true sense of community, all the while retaining the importance of history.

‘Vastint UK is set to deliver 58,000 m² office space bringing 2,500 jobs to the area, 1,200 homes, three acres of open space including a riverside park, as well as many independent restaurants, cafés and shops. Sugar House Island’s thriving community already includes over 600 residents, office tenants, a two-form entry Primary school and the UK’s first national Talent House for urban culture.’

What’s in a name? 

The island itself takes its name from the19th century five-storey brick warehouse which stands on site to this day. ‘The original sugar refinery once stood at the top of Sugar House Lane where it meets the High Street.’ The enthralling name somehow dictates the need for a sweet toned colour palette. Eye-catching colour was one of the key stipulations for developer and contractor on this project. Tones which also hark back to the origins of the site which has played host to key industrial trades throughout its history.

As outlined by Vastint: 

Textile printing & Dye works

From the 1600’s the river supported textile related industries including dyeing and silk weaving. In the late 1600’s the silk industry was replaced by calico-printing, with suggestions that the first Calico printer in England was William Sherwin of West Ham.

Vision

‘A sweeter quality of life.’ Without over-egging the sugar theme, the intention behind Sugar House Island’s ‘award-winning’ is to create a scheme which offers a better quality of life for its  6,000 peopled community.

World-class planners, designers and architects are behind this ambitious vision. ‘Inspired by the site’s rich history, the masterplan combines modern architecture with retained industrial heritage features, creating characterful spaces with plenty to explore.’

Petrarch Accents

Petrarch punctuates Sugar House Island with sweet toned reconstituted stone panels

As well as testifying to the power and intensity of Petrarch’s colour palette, what this project also demonstrated is how Petrarch works beautifully as an accent material, complementing a whole host of contemporary and traditional facade materials. From banding and balconies to striking contrasting entrances, Petrarch punctuates Sugar Island with pops of vibrant colour and texturally rich panels.