Apartment Block Entrances — Design for Ebbsfleet

Communal Entrances

Entrance areas should provide a warm welcome and a sense of address for residents of apartment blocks, that are attractive, secure and convenient for the delivery of post and packages.

Applications should demonstrate how they meet the following objectives.

Design Objectives

Prominent within the elevation : Façade design should highlight communal entrances. This can be achieved in many ways, including enhancing the height or scale of the entrance area, using a prominent feature canopy or porch, the use of feature materials or detailing around the entrance, or the locating of the entrance within a feature form / architectural element within the façade
Access: The front entrance should provide step-free access from the pavement and parking space into the house, that is compliant with Building Regs M4 Part 2.
Shelter: The entrance should provide shelter from the elements for residents arriving and departing, which could take the form of a recessed porch or a canopy. Any canopy / shelter structure should be developed to complement the design narrative of the apartment block, and could also be used to highlight the entrance within the façade composition.
Attractive and comfortable entrance lobbies : Entrance lobbies should be a complimentary extension to the design of the entrance, forming a sense of place that can engender a sense of ownership and pride for residents.
Meeting point : The entrance lobby and landscaped areas outside the entrance are often a place where neighbours may bump into each other, and these spaces should provide sufficient space for conversation without blocking the entrance route. Seating would also be very beneficial.
Storage : Communal entrance areas should consider how secure storage for post and packages can be integrated into the space, without blocking the entrance route. Post boxes should be secure large enough to accommodate an A4 package
Lighting : Considered, sensitive lighting should be incorporated into both the external entrance area and the lobby to create a welcoming ambience.
Security : Communal entrance doors should be fitted with fob operated locks with video entry system. Fob system should be extended to refuse, cycle and other communal doors .
Defensible Planting : Robust structural planting to a minimum height of 800mm within the entrance area can help to reinforce the perception of a defensible space around the front door.
Communal entrances should include a community notice board, well designed and lockable.

Entrance should be prominent within the façade design

Royal Albert Wharf ( Macreanor Lavington Architects )

Lobby is given a double height space to signify presence on the streetscape, and provide a dramatic sense of arrival. The balcony above doubles up as a high level canopy, and post boxes are well integrated into the glazing system.

Ely Court, Kilburn by Allison Brookes Architects

Entrance is given added prominence through the addition of the panel of hit and miss brickwork above it, signposting the entrance within the façade.

Attractive and comfortable entrance lobbies

Distinctiveness

Opportunity to incorporate artwork into the lobby space to create a sense of arrival and a pride in the communal spaces.

Attractive and generous entrance lobby

Entrance lobby for a large apartment block provides a generous space, using high quality materials and lighting to create character and inspire a sense of pride and care for the space

Generous entrance filled with natural daylight

Design language of the entrance is brought into the lobby to create a characterful, light, clean and welcoming space. The generosity afforded by the extra width allows space for residents to informally meet and greet each other as they enter and exit their homes, contributing to a sense of community within the apartment block.

Light and colour

The use of glazing and colour helps to create an attractive point of arrival, and a memorable, distinctive ‘front door’ for the apartments.