Papa Architects Ltd

Overview —

This fire damaged, eight storey 1960s office block was converted into a hostel for 140 people after a planning appeal against homeless accommodation in the area. In winning the appeal Papa were also granted a larger building than was originally requested. Now the building runs at full occupancy and has made a positive contribution to the regeneration of the area.

The steel sandwich cladding system, which had not been used on residential accommodation previously, enabled a rapid construction process as well as increasing the floor plates substantially by being fixed to the exposed concrete fins of the existing floor plates. Point West was a finalist in the 2003 Building Design Awards.