West End Gate, Edgware Road

Overview

Positioned prominently on Edgware Road in Marylebone, West End Gate by the Berkeley Group combines refined architecture with premium residential living. Designed by Squire & Partners, the development stands as a gateway to London’s West End, comprising four mansion-block buildings arranged around a landscaped garden square. Sapphire collaborated from early design stages to support both aesthetic ambition and delivery efficiency.

Aspirations: Refined Architecture in a Gateway Location

The client’s goal was to deliver a sophisticated façade reflecting the site’s prominence while ensuring buildability and efficiency. Using Michelmersh Hampshire Stock Downs Blend brick with glazed and metal panels, the façades achieve a rich texture and tone. Balconies were designed in a dark finish to contrast with the lighter brickwork, enhancing the development’s visual rhythm.

 

 

Constraints: Architectural & Structural Coordination

The design required the integration of both projecting and inset balcony types, coordinated with varied façade treatments and private amenity spaces. Achieving architectural consistency across different typologies while maintaining precision in structure and sequencing demanded early collaboration and a simplified, standardised design approach.

 

 

How Sapphire Streamlined the Project

Sapphire implemented a limited palette of standardised balcony formats, minimising variations in structural calculations and installation. Anchors were cast in early during frame construction, and all balconies were prefabricated offsite, ensuring quality control and programme certainty. Each unit featured vertical bar balustrades, edge-drained soffits, and a comb fascia detail for a seamless façade integration. Finished in a dark-toned RAL, the balconies provided a clean, refined aesthetic aligned with the architectural vision.