Pollard Thomas Edwards won Islington Council’s RIBA competition to masterplan the Finsbury Leisure Centre site. The project includes new leisure and health facilities, a nursery and energy centre, new homes, a new public square and improved public realm. The proposals will create a lasting civic legacy for Islington and the Finsbury community.

At the heart of the proposal is the ‘Finsbury Leisure Centre’ – a joyous contextual public building for ordinary people. The sports hall is clad in reflective red copper and designed to be a community beacon visible from surrounding streets.

The proposals for the new residential buildings are reminiscent of the classic London mansion block - designed to transform the setting of St Luke’s Gardens and Church. All the new homes are dual aspect with a mix to reflect planning policy.

The new public realm is a place for people of different ages, genders and interests, and promotes health and wellbeing.

The overall masterplan provides a high level of sustainable design and integration between architecture, structure, services and landscape. This approach is typified in the new energy centre, with glazed frontage and realtime energy production display.