Case Study #2: Priory Heights

Priory Heights Estate, Islington, London

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Priory Heighs Estate, London

Avanti Architects' refurbishment of these 1950s housing blocks in north London, designed by Berthold Lubetkin's practice Tecton, is now nearly 10 years old, but is still radical in its sensitive approach to regeneration.

Avanti director John Allan, Lubetkin's biographer and an expert on his work, was determined to avoid the conventional options of overcladding or blanket white coating. Instead, a solution was found that that would restore the original tonal contrasts – where exposed aggregate concrete was the mid tone between light cornices, copings, tiled panels, planters and the dark bricks.

An artist applies multic-coloured dots of paint to reinstate the original tonal effect

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Because the client wanted to achieve a warranted result, a proprietary product repair system from Sika was used, avoiding the introduction of aggregates, which could have invalidated the guarantee. The correct visual effect was then created by distressing the surface to create texture, and a team of 24 artists was brought in to paint the 'aggregate' in the form of multi-coloured dots using Sika Sikagard 680S Cosmetic.

The overall effect is a very convincing optical illusion. A clear anti-carbonation coating (Sika 680S Clear Glaze) was then applied over the panels as a whole, which Allan admits 'gives the game away a bit' with its slightly increased in the repair areas.