Chips, New Islington

Chips is the first Urban Splash residential development on the New Islington Millennium Village site and Architect Will Alsop’s first major residential development. At nine storeys high, it zigzags along the edge of the Ashton Canal as a group of three-storey elements (‘Chips’) stacked one on top of the other. Each one takes a different route along the edge of the canal, producing overhanging or inset zones along the perimeter at the interface of each box. This creates a rich and interesting form both visually and structurally. There is a large basement providing car parking for the building and at ground level there is a triple height lobby, restaurant and studio space. Construction began in September 2005, and is due for completion in spring 2009.

The building incorporates two, three storey high cantilevers, the longest being 12.6m, which added to the engineering challenge.

CLIENT – Urban Splash

ROLE - Civil and Structural Engineer

ARCHITECT – Alsop Architects

COST – £16m