From Krystol Magazine Vol. 16|2 “Feature Story”
In what was once a former brownfield site in the Streatham Hill area of London now sits an innovative, low carbon development which has revitalized the neighborhood. Formally a backstreet garage, the site now houses three leading-edge, urban homes including a penthouse and two duplex apartments each featuring a green roof, their own private entrances and parking.
The lot features a landscaped shared amenity space plus each home includes their own private outdoor spaces. Brownfield sites can have a negative effect on surrounding property values and a neighborhood’s entire image. When developers from the global infrastructure firm Leathwaite, who specialize in sustainable construction services, took on this project they wanted to not only replace the brownfield site but also improve the entire community by using the most advanced construction methods and sustainable building practices for minimal impact to the environment.
One of Lethwaite’s chosen construction materials was Kryton’s Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) concrete waterproofing admixture. KIM extends the life of concrete structures, enables the future recycling of concrete and also reduces jobsite waste making KIM an ideal partner for Leathwaite’s award-winning and sustainable Dunedin Mews residential development.
The KIM admixture was added to the concrete used for the raft foundation slab, because of the slab’s irregular shape, reduced site height and design it would have been incredibly complex and expensive to achieve a watertight slab using traditional membranes.
KIM-treated concrete was also used in the first story of Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) walls to create a waterproof solution for the walls on one side of the building which are below ground. By using
KIM there was no need for additional waterproofing or membranes and no additional labor costs. ICF construction was chosen for Dunedin Mews as ICF constructed buildings are more energy efficient and longer lasting. The use of ICF and the technology has been noted as a Modern Method of Construction by the
Building Research Establishment, English Partnerships and Communities England.
The once bleak site is now a sustainable, chic, modern, urban living space and has improved the community. The project was awarded ‘Best Small Development’ at this year’s annual London Evening Standard New Homes Award where judges praised the development for its sustainability, ‘bold contemporary architecture’ and ‘innovative construction methods’.
