The Glassworks is the latest addition to the Greenford Quay masterplan, delivering 354 build-to-rent homes as part of an 8.23-hectare regeneration of a former industrial site along the Grand Union Canal in Ealing. The broader masterplan will provide over 2,100 homes, alongside commercial and community spaces that reconnect the area with the canal through new pedestrian routes, an ecological corridor, and an expansive public realm.
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The Glassworks
A landmark build to rent development reconnecting Greenford with the Grand Union Canal.
One Place, Many Stories
Architecture
The Glassworks draws on the industrial and Art Deco heritage of the site, formerly home to Glaxo House. The design pays homage to 1930s industrial architecture through a bold, expressive brick aesthetic. The façade is composed of repeating ribbed brick piers and alternating stack-bonded spandrel panels, laid in bricks. Chamfered corners with stepped, angled detailing articulate the massing and create sculptural junctions between elevations. Horizontal banding across the six-storey brick base subtly suggests a double-height order, reinforcing the rhythm of the façade.
On the east-facing and courtyard elevations, a simpler stretcher bond expression provides a quieter backdrop in response to the adjacent Glaxo House. The canal-facing corner is marked by a striking fourteen-storey tower clad in gold-coloured aluminium, acting as a crown and anchoring the building within the wider masterplan.
Metal elements, including PPC aluminium window frames, profiled spandrel panels, louvres, and glazed balustrades, provide contrast to the tactile quality of the brickwork. These refined technical components complement the robust masonry to create a cohesive architectural language that blends industrial character with contemporary performance.
The Glassworks provides a broad mix of apartment types, with generous access to light, views, and outdoor spaces. Podium-level gardens offer semi-private communal areas, while rooftop amenities include a gym, yoga studio, podcast room, lounge and private dining areas. Ground-floor lounges, co-working areas, and a pet spa further support the build to rent lifestyle.
Landscape Design
The Glassworks plays a key role in re-establishing the relationship between the community and the Grand Union Canal. The public realm features new walkways, gathering spaces, and community programming at the canal edge. Designed to accommodate changing demographics and support social wellbeing, the development reinforces Greenford Quay as a mixed-use destination with a strong civic identity.
There are two north-facing podium gardens that overlook the adjacent Glaxo House, which is being refurbished as creative workspace and artist studios. At street level, a new bridge reconnects the canal path and leads to a stone amphitheatre used year-round for events. This active edge enhances public life and strengthens local connections.
Sustainability & Building Physics
Initially designed by Hawkins\Brown, The Glassworks has been delivered by HTA using factory-made volumetric modular construction. This approach enables precise alignment, consistency in detailing, and efficient delivery
Modular construction at The Glassworks enables significant environmental performance gains. The approach reduces on-site waste by up to 80% and lowers embodied carbon emissions, with 99% of factory waste either recycled or used for energy recovery. Following circular economy principles, all site demolition material was reused on-site to form the amphitheatre and public square.
Brick contributes thermal mass and durability, while refined detailing such as coursing and reveals is designed to accommodate long-term moisture and thermal movement. These passive strategies enhance energy efficiency while minimising maintenance.
