HTA Design has completed Enclave: Acton, a 32-storey co-living tower in North Acton. It is the second volumetric modular co-living tower in London that the practice has designed for volumetric developer Tide, following an earlier scheme in Croydon, which completed in 2023.

The scheme was delivered by Tide together with its offsite manufacturing company Vision Volumetric, using volumetric modular construction and was completed in 18 months.

The building comprises two volumes of 27 and 32 storeys, each distinguished by a different colour of cladding and responding to the diamond-shaped geometry of the site.

It replaces the former Castle Pub on the site though this has been reinstated at ground level with a function room above on the first floor, helping activate the street frontage.

Drawing inspiration from the pub, the façade at street level features glazed terracotta bricks, arranged in facets with deep reveals to window openings. Above, similar detailing continues up the tower, creating a unified design, with aluminium infill panels and polished glass-reinforced concrete panels used for durability and giving the tower a distinctive character.

Communal spaces remain a key aspect of the design. There are 462 studio apartments – which average only 22.5m2 – sharing 1,500m2 of facilities, including a rooftop terrace and adjacent enclosed sunrooms. The building is operated by Outpost Management.

HTA led on the interior design of the homes and amenity spaces, referencing the original Arts and Crafts-style Castle Pub and the nearby BBC Television Rehearsal Rooms from the late 1960s. Key features include the use of basket-weave patterning and crafted joinery, with mid-century modern colours giving a distinctive aesthetic.

Landscaping at ground level defines the building edge, with clear-stem planting and raised planters contributing to an improved public realm.

Architect’s view

By reinstating the pub and introducing a first-floor public function room with independent access, Enclave: Acton strengthens its role as a community hub. Above the pub, we transformed a challenging site through our expertise in co-living design, delivering a distinctive triangulated plan that integrates shared amenities with varied home layouts. The glazed brick references historic pubs while creating a cohesive architectural identity that celebrates this prominent corner site. This project marks our thirteenth collaboration with Tide Construction and demonstrates the versatility of their modular system, Vision Volumetric.
Simon Toplis, partner, HTA Design

Clients’ views

Enclave: Acton marks our first partnership with BlackRock and our second with Outpost Management, following Enclave: Croydon – part of our College Road development that delivered 1,000 homes in just 28 months.

This project demonstrates how volumetric construction enables high-quality, sustainable housing delivery at pace and scale, with 462 homes completed in less than 18 months. Tide and Vision’s precision manufacturing ensured the scheme was delivered on time and to plan, reinforcing the programme, cost and quality certainty that underpins our strong, repeat and long-term partnerships with funders and developers.
Christy Hayes, chief executive, Tide Construction

We’re excited to open Enclave: Acton, our latest London development and the fourth in our growing portfolio alongside King’s Cross, Croydon, and Birmingham City. With beautifully designed apartments and five floors of outstanding amenities, Enclave: Acton delivers our effortless living concept: convenience-led, tech-enabled, and all-inclusive. This vibrant new community reflects our commitment to creating high-quality homes that empower residents to live productively, healthily, and happily.
Troy Tomasik, chief executive, Outpost Management

 

Project data

Location North Acton, London W3
Start on site May 2023
Completion date October 2025
Gross internal floor area 19,370m2
Gross (internal + external) floor area 19,620m2
Form of contract or procurement route Design and Build
Construction cost Undisclosed
Architect HTA Design
Client Outpost Management
Structural engineer BMCE
M&E consultant Vector Design
QS Tide Construction
Landscape consultant HTA Design
Acoustic consultant BY Acoustics
Modular subcontractor Vision Modular Systems
Principal façade subcontractor Century Facades
Brickwork façade subcontractor AON Contracts
Project manager Tide Construction
Principal designer Tide Construction
CDM co-ordinator Tide Construction
Approved building inspector Bureau Veritas
Main contractor Tide Construction
CAD software used Revit

Environmental performance data

Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2% Not calculated
Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >5% Not calculated
On-site energy generation 70%
Annual mains water consumption Not calculated
Airtightness at 50Pa Public house: 2.94 m3/h.m2, co-living amenity: 2.88 m3/h.m2, co-living studios: 1-3 m3/h.m2
Heating and hot water load 39.48 kWh/m2/yr (predicted)
Operational energy 81.45 kWh/m2/yr (predicted)
Total energy load Not calculated
Overall area-weighted U-value Not calculated
Predicted design life 70 years
Embodied carbon Not calculated
Whole-life carbon Not calculated
Annual CO2 emissions 215,300 kgCO2eq/m2
Energy performance certificate rating A-B