"Nothing better could have happened to us at the beginning of our work in London," recalled JTRE London executive director Juraj Marko last summer about the feelings at the beginning of work on the Triptych Bankside multifunctional project. Three buildings (two residential and one administrative) were built by Slovaks in the middle of the South Bank district on the south bank of the River Thames, not far from famous places such as the Tate Modern gallery or Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
The debut project resonated with people
The administrative premises of the One Triptych Place office tower were already completely leased in the summer of 2023, and only 30% of the 169 apartments were left for sale by the developer at the beginning of this year. The second London project - Appleby Blue - is also fully occupied. This facility offers affordable housing for seniors in superior quality. JTRE London thus complied with local standards (either pay a fee or build social housing), but also improved its reputation.
"It benefited us that we made that decision. Thanks to this, we are seen as a responsible developer who is interested in giving back and helping the community. We also brought social value," explained JTRE London's second managing director Nigel Fleming.
Executive directors of JTRE London Nigel Fleming (left) and Juraj Marko (right). | Source: Miro Doubt
Again with affordable housing
The next step of the Slovak developer in the capital of England will be in the same spirit. 220 Blackfriars Road will bring two new towers to Southwark, designed by London-based Fathom Architects. They will also include a home for the elderly, a key point of cooperation with Southwark Charities, founded in 1717. However, the cooperation of both entities is not accidental.
The future site of the lucrative £400 million project currently houses the Prince William Henry Pub and a home for the elderly, owned by Southwark Charities. It has a capacity of 25 residential units, which will almost triple after the completion of 220 Blackfriars Road.
Future project site 220 Blackfriars Road. Currently, the Prince William Henry Pub and the building of the Edward Edwards Nursing Home stand here Source: Google Maps
The new building of the home for the elderly will have 15 floors, on which there will be 62 housing units with a garden, a charity center and a social hall. Southwark Charities will thus be able to continue to provide affordable housing at one of London's most expensive addresses, where this type of facility has been continuously since 1752. Demolition of the original building will begin in March this year.
The administrative building of the 220 Blackfriars Road project will have 21 floors with more than 20,000 square meters of offices, roof gardens and a gastronomic offer. An active parterre with space for a restaurant or cafe will also be created on the ground floor.
"We are committed to bringing an iconic new part of Southwark to a site with a rich history and great importance to the local community, serving not only residents and staff, but the wider community," says Nigel Fleming.
The project covers all aspects of environmental and social responsibility (ESG), while being a leader in the social field. The offices will be operated with zero CO2 emissions and are designed to meet the standards of WELL Gold, BREEAM Outstanding environmental certifications. They also aim for a NABERS energy rating of 5 to 5.5 (out of a maximum of 6) and a Platinum Smart Score, the highest level of WiredScore's smart building rating.
Visualization of the 220 Blackfriars Road project. | Source: JTRE London
