HTA Design’s latest addition to Canary Wharf delivers two aparthotel buildings and a new public square that echo the area’s industrial past while shaping its residential future.
HTA Design has completed two residential buildings and a landscaped public square for Canary Wharf Group (CWG) at the heart of the Wood Wharf masterplan. Known as 3 & 15 West Lane, the new serviced apartments form part of a car-free neighbourhood called The Lanes, characterised by pedestrian streets, pocket parks, and independent shops.
Situated between Union Square and Bellevue Place, the buildings mark the first in a new offering from CWG’s build-to-rent arm, Vertus. The apartments, designed for short and long stays, sit above ground-floor retail and restaurant units. Guests have access to lounges, co-working areas, private dining rooms, and three roof terraces, while the public realm provides active frontage and year-round engagement with the wider neighbourhood.
HTA’s design draws inspiration from the lost warehouse architecture of the former Isle of Dogs docklands, also echoing the loft-style vernacular of New York, something also reflected in the urban realm nomenclature. Predominantly brick with pre-cast concrete detailing, the buildings acknowledge their historical setting without pastiche. Window reveals vary in depth depending on orientation, helping to manage solar gain and maximise natural light.
Internally, the 297-apartment scheme takes cues from the vivid visual language of Wes Anderson. Developed in response to a brief of “Fun and Flair”, the interiors feature bespoke joinery, fully equipped kitchens and rippled fabric walls, combining tactile materials with playful character. Amenity spaces—including a gym, co-working areas and lounges—are designed to offer flexibility and a sense of home, aligning with the communal ethos of the Wood Wharf district.
Union Square, located at the foot of the buildings, is conceived as a meanwhile space with a minimum lifespan of five years. It features a hard-surfaced events area, bleacher seating, edible planting, and an informal play space within naturalistic planting. The surrounding landscape supports biodiversity and improves connectivity across the estate, offering views and step-free access via a series of long pedestrian routes.
The buildings have achieved BREEAM ‘Excellent’, with sustainability strategies developed by HTA’s Sustainable Futures team. Openable windows eliminate the need for mechanical cooling, while all apartments are equipped with efficient services that support low-carbon living.
Part of HTA’s ongoing collaboration with Canary Wharf Group, the project complements nearby Eden Dock, developed in partnership with the Eden Project and Howells. Together, the schemes signal a broader transformation of the Wharf as it looks to create a socially and environmentally responsive place to live and work.
“Canary Wharf is undergoing a major transformation and 3 & 15 West Lane – the latest development in HTA’s ongoing collaboration with CWG – delivers two new residential buildings that contribute to the growing buzz and evolving character of the Wood Wharf neighbourhood,” said Colin Ainger, partner at HTA Design. “In the style of the estate’s historic warehouse architecture these buildings act as a fitting focal point for the newly landscaped Union Square while contributing an exciting new living offer to the Wharf’s growing community.”
Additional images
