a model for the future of regenerative cities
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) has completed the UK’s lowest embodied carbon mass timber it’s a milestone...
This mass timber, fully demountable structure is a powerful demonstration of how simplicity, circularity, and carbon- conscious design can define the future of global cities. Completed five years ahead of RIBA’s 2030 sustainability targets, the six-floor building delivers 35% lower embodied carbon, locks away over 1,800 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere – equivalent to the carbon emissions of building 24 new homes – and has been designed with a whole-life approach in mind. It is engineered for complete disassembly and reuse, a benchmark for circular construction. “Paradise represents a bold step forward in how we think about workplace design,” said Alex Whitbread, Partner at FCBStudios. “It’s a project that demonstrates how ambitious sustainability targets, deep community collaboration, and a commitment to wellbeing can come together in a truly regenerative building.” ‘Paradise SE11’, named after Old Paradise
Gardens which the building adjoins, set out to create a new standard for workspace design, putting sustainability and wellbeing at the forefront. Natural light floods into the floorplates offering views out to the gardens, connectivity to the passing trains and across to the city skyline in the distance. Generous floor heights, exposing the timber structure for a natural finish and access to green spaces, all contribute to a healthy workplace and human-centric design. Pavlos Clifton, Head of Development at
Bywater said: “This is us rethinking what a central London development can be, not just in form, but in feeling. A place where sustainability, community and creativity don’t just co-exist, they drive everything. Paradise is timber-led, design-forward
and proudly different. It’s rare to get the chance to shape something this meaningful. Even rarer to do it with a team that genuinely believes in a better way of building.” Designed for flexibility, the ground floor offers space for workshop use and maker space with the upper floors created for adaptability and reconfiguration, dynamically shapeshifting to suit tenant needs. With over 45 years of sustainable workplace design experience, FCBStudios embraced the opportunity to partner with a like-minded developer committed to putting people and planet first.
Designing simplicity: A collaborative blueprint At the core of Paradise lies a commitment to designing out complexity. The project team challenged conventional construction methods, opting instead for a streamlined, elegant timber structure that prioritises simplicity, adaptability, and material honesty. This meant eliminating adhesives in favour of mechanical fixings that allow for future disassembly and reuse, a foundational step towards true circular construction. The decision to expose the timber
structure drove a fundamental shift in design thinking. Achieving this required early and close collaboration between architects, structural engineers, fire consultants, and acoustic specialists. Every element, from junctions to finishes, was considered in detail to ensure the exposed timber met performance standards without compromising visual integrity or sustainability goals. One of the key challenges was resolving
material interfaces in a way that preserved the building’s demountable nature.
Images: ©Andy Stagg
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