FAQs - Design
Do you think the design and use of the development are appropriate for this part of Matthias Road?
The Applicant has identified the Site as an appropriate location for a new self storage facility based upon extensive market research, which has demonstrated a gap in supply in the area. As such, it is likely that the facility would be well-used from opening.
The proposed Fab Lab flexible workspace units further enhance the Site’s employment offer, and function in conjunction with the self storage floorspace.
The flexibility afforded by the minimally fitted-out units and the different sizes of self storage units on offer combine to allow businesses to expand or contract their operations in response to market forces more flexibly than would be the case for a conventional workspace unit or storage unit.
The design of the proposed building needs to balance multiple and competing requirements. These include responding to the Grade-1 listed brick St Matthias Church, and nearby brick-clad residential properties and apartment blocks, the need to be sustainable and environmentally aware, and enhancing the character of this part of Stoke Newington, by creating active frontages which animate the street and enhance the character of the site including the public realm on all sides. In addition, the privacy of the school must be respected to ensure no overlooking into the playgrounds will take place. The design therefore has responded to all these factors to ensure the design sits comfortably in its setting.
What materials will be used in the development?
The building form and elevational treatment have been designed to respond to the context of the area and provide a unique and distinctive design that complements the streetscene of this part of Matthias Road. The brick-clad design uses a strong visual rhythm, with windows arranged in a consistent pattern wherever there is internal activity—such as fab labs, retail spaces, and circulation corridors. The rhythm of the façade is carried on even in zones where no glazing is present, with the glazing being replaced with metal panels. This approach not only ensures there is no overlooking into the school, but also reflects an honest expression of the building’s function. Inspired by London’s historic brick warehouses, the design emphasizes practicality and usability, allowing the building's form to naturally emerge from its functional requirements.