dla@home | The Bartlett Students & Alumni: An evening of charcuterie & conversation.

Our latest dla@home event took place in the London Studio this week, an evening of charcuterie and conversation centred on the next generation of housing leaders.

In partnership with the MSc Housing & City Planning course at The Bartlett (UCL), Associate Director and Bartlett alumnus Charles Jabre hosted a group of 2025 students for an exclusive site tour of our Equipment Works residential project in Walthamstow, followed by a synopsis session and debate back at the studio with our London Residential team and other Bartlett alumni the evening explored the realities of housing delivery and design that responds to community need, and how better collaboration can help unlock better homes and stronger neighbourhoods. We also discussed how diverse housing products (such as Coliving and long-stay hotels) are emerging as a response to a market and regulatory challenges.

The event formed part of dla’s ongoing dla@home series, which brings together clients, collaborators, and future professionals in informal, thought-provoking settings that celebrate design, dialogue, and shared learning.

Charles Jabre, Associate Director at DLA Architecture, said:

“It was a real privilege to welcome The Bartlett’s students into our world not just to see Equipment Works, but to understand the thinking, the compromises, and the creativity that shapes London Living . As a Bartlett graduate myself, it’s rewarding to see the same energy and curiosity in this new generation. Huge thanks to Professor Iqbal Hamiduddin for continuing to build such meaningful bridges between academia and practice.”

Dr Iqbal Hamiduddin, Associate Professor at the Bartlett, said:

The Equipment Works site visit hosted by Charles Jabre and the team at DLA provided my Housing and City Planning students with a perfect introduction to good practice in London’s Build-to-Rent sector. The scheme is relatable to a wide range of different contexts and therefore proved to be of great interest to the diverse and international cohort that we have at the Bartlett. The attention to design detail, social integration and quality of placemaking achieved at the Equipment Works particularly impressed the group, who enjoyed the insights that Charles provided. I would like to thank Charles and the team at DLA for creating such an enriching afternoon.

About Equipment Works

Located at the heart of the Blackhorse Road Masterplan, Equipment Works delivers a mixed-tenure community of build-to-rent and affordable homes alongside flexible commercial space for local businesses. The design reinterprets Walthamstow’s industrial heritage through expressive brickwork and large-scale murals, while pioneering an ultra-low-temperature heat network that cuts carbon emissions by 68%. The scheme creates a connected, sustainable neighbourhood that celebrates both community identity and climate leadership.

About Blended Living