Guildford Crescent

Name: One Darnley Road
Price range: $

Cardiff, UK

Services

Sectors

Residential

People

project overview

Bringing new life into a historic corner of the city

This thoughtfully designed 30-storey residential tower will deliver 272 high quality, private built-to-rent homes. Instilling a sense of place, community and belonging, our design for Guildford Crescent integrates generous resident amenities, including first floor communal spaces and a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views across the city skyline.

A key feature of the scheme is the sensitive restoration and reimagining of Guildford Crescent’s original terraced buildings. These historic frontages will be retained and revitalised, preserving a much-loved part of the city’s heritage while introducing new commercial spaces at street level to support local businesses and encourage a vibrant, welcoming environment.

The building itself responds to the unique character of its surroundings. Rather than forming a single block, the design is broken down into three interlocking blocks which step down from 30 to 26 to 22-storeys.

This approach helps the tower sit comfortably alongside the neighbouring Masonic Hall and the surrounding streetscape, creating a varied and dynamic profile on Cardiff’s skyline.

The facade is composed of finely detailed concrete panels and recessed window modules that give the building texture, rhythm and visual interest. Subtle variations in colour and articulation between the three blocks help to break down the overall scale and give each part of the building its own character.

Throughout the project, the original design vision has remained at the heart of every decision. A consistent design and technical team has overseen the development from start to finish, supported by regular design reviews and quality checks to ensure the finished building stays true to that vision.

Guildford Daytime Photomontage 01 Blue Sky

placemaking

Creating a place that feels welcoming, distinctive and connected to its surroundings

The building sits in a prominent location on the eastern edge of Cardiff's city centre, directly adjoining the new Canal Quarter, a key regeneration area that is reintroducing the city’s historic waterways into the public realm. Guildford Crescent plays an important role in shaping this emerging neighbourhood, responding to both its historic and contemporary context.

Our design reinstates the distinctive terraced facade of Guildford Crescent, which has gained significant public affection in recent years. These frontages create active street edges, hosting new commercial spaces hoped to accommodate food and beverage offerings to support local businesses and encourage social activity.

The public spaces around the building have been carefully designed to complement the wider public realm improvements being delivered by Cardiff Council. High quality paving, planting and seating areas extend beyond the site, connecting seamlessly with the new waterside spaces along Churchill Way. Trees and planting soften the edges of the development and create a more green and welcoming environment.

sustainability

Central to the design from the very beginning

The project makes the most of its highly accessible city centre location, encouraging residents and visitors to travel sustainably. Situated just a two-minute walk from Queen Street station and within easy reach of Cardiff Central, the development is entirely car-free, supporting the city’s ambitions for active travel and low-carbon living.

Designed to stand the test of time, its structure is formed from robust, off-site manufactured concrete panels, providing a durable, fire-resistant construction with a long lifespan. High quality facade materials, selected in collaboration with Cardiff Council, ensure the development is built to last and easy to maintain over the years.

The landscape design also plays a role in supporting Cardiff’s green infrastructure. New trees, planters and soft landscaping introduce greenery and biodiversity to this part of the city, helping to create a healthier, more attractive urban environment.

Beyond the physical design, the development’s sustainable approach is reflected in the way it has been delivered. A consistent design and technical team has overseen the project from start to finish, ensuring that quality, sustainability and long-term value have remained a priority at every stage.

key information