Pipeline projects: five co-living spaces to watch
We round up five planning and construction phase BTR projects that are redefining co-living as we know it.
Cornerstone by AHMM
AHMM to transform 1950s office building in Barbican Estate
Developer HUB and sustainable and impact investor Bridges Fund Management have received planning permission from the City of London for a full conversion of Cornerstone, a disused, brutalist office block located on 45 Beech Street. The development will introduce a new version of community-centric co-living housing to the neighbourhood, while also delivering notable embodied carbon savings.
Located adjacent to the time-honoured Barbican Estate, Cornerstone will deliver new co-living homes, state-of-the-art amenities and improved public realm, including a café and coworking space that will be available to the existing local community.
Designed by Stirling Prize-winning practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the project will transform barren offices into much needed homes for commuters.
Enclave Salford, BDP
BDP receives green light for apartment block in Salford
Salford City Council’s planning committee has approved plans by Progressive Living Developments to bring forward the city’s first co-living scheme at Gorton Street, now to be known as Enclave Salford.
Designed by BDP, the proposed development is set within the Greengate Regeneration Area and will comprise a total of 568 self-contained studio apartments alongside a generous provision of amenity spaces including residents’ lounges, a cinema room, games room and makers space, communal cooking and dining areas, a gym and wellness centre, coworking spaces and meeting rooms.
Currently used as a car park, the new insertion will sit amongst existing residential properties, the river Irwell and the railway arches, which Progressive Living Developments plans use for F&B offerings in the future.
Externally the building is formed from two rectilinear towers – one that will reach 42 floors and one of 39. The façade is made up of three-storey modular glazing and features a grid detail that is clad in light bronze and natural silver. The two colours will aesthetically differentiate the towers, as well as complement the masonry and brickwork traditionally seen in Salford and Manchester.
Missoni Sky Core
Missoni to bring fashion-led co-living concept to Toronto skyline
II BY IV DESIGN announces the launch of MISSONI SKY, a luxury mixed-use residential tower that combines homely comfort with hotel-style luxury in Toronto’s vibrant centre. Designed in collaboration with the Missoni team, CORE Architects has balanced the creative spirit of the fashion house with high-calibre aparthotel specifications in the imagining of the new residential spaces.
Spacious suites will feature spa-inspired bathrooms, stylish kitchens and crafted lounge spaces, all enhanced by premium finishes such as natural stone, custom millwork and metal accents. Panoramic windows flood the interiors with natural light, while neutral palettes and bold swatches of colour create harmonious contrast. Missoni’s distinctive zigzags are reflected in bespoke furnishings, textiles and curated accents throughout, ensuring each space feels contemporary while staying true to the brand’s storied legacy.
Residents will benefit from a state-of-the-art fitness centre, yoga and spin studios and a juice bar and, on the 21st floor, access an expansive semi-sheltered terrace complete with a sculpture garden, BBQ dining spaces, and an outdoor fireplace primed for gathering with neighbours and hotel guests.
Visuals by Conica
BGY wins bid for £350m Greenwich Peninsula masterplan
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has approved plans for a high-rise, residential-led development at Enderby Place, situated at Greenwich Peninsula west. This landmark project, covering an area of 670,000 sq ft and with a construction cost of approximately £350 million, promises to transform the area with its innovative design and community-focused amenities.
The development, comprising two 24-storey buildings and one 33-storey building, alongside a four-storey block of maisonettes, are thoughtfully arranged around two plots of urban greening: a public park fronting the River Thames and an enclosed landscaped central garden. The scheme will provide 564 homes, with 35% of these designated as affordable housing. This includes 118 homes for social rent and features four-bedroom houses with private gardens.
A standout feature of the proposal is its sustainability strategy, which has achieved a massive 74% reduction in carbon emissions, thanks to photovoltaic panels, air-source heat pumping and passive measures like overhanging balconies orientated to minimise solar gain.
25H Heimat by twenty five hours luxury BTR tower to open
25Hours Hotels are now taking reservations for its first residential venture 25H Heimat by twenty five hours, a BTR skyscraper located in Downtown Dubai. Situated at heart of the metropolis, the latest addition to the 25Hours portfolio is set to redefine luxury living in the area, providing meticulously crafted living spaces to accommodate a range of lifestyles and preferences, whilst infusing the brand’s unique interpretation of cultural context into the design.
From snug studio corners that maximise their 568 sq ft floorplan to expansive duplex penthouses spanning an impressive 3,000 sq ft, the concept aspires to combine elegance with practicality, the high-specification suites awash with homely soft-furnishings, warm-toned FF&E and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer 180-degree panoramas of the Burj Khalifa and vibrant Downtown Boulevard.
Offering a wide range of opulent amenities, tenants will also be able to access an exclusive sky lounge, indoor-outdoor gym facilities, coworking space, pool and mini-golf course.
