Snowsfields Quarter

Snowsfields Quarter will be Southwark’s hub for tackling global health challenges at a local level. Building on centuries of medical innovation and the world-leading work already being carried out by medical and academic institutions in the area, Snowsfields Quarter will reinforce Southwark’s role at the heart of the UK’s life sciences sector. It will attract and retain top-tier companies and talent, foster a vibrant and collaborative life sciences ecosystem, and play a key role in the continued expansion of the SC1 Life Sciences Innovation District.

The Snowsfields Quarter Partnership, a collaboration between Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, Oxford Properties, and Reef Group, is leading the regeneration of this pivotal site. As part of the architectural team alongside Allies and Morrison, DSDHA is designing one of three new buildings that will collectively deliver around 190,000 sq ft of floorspace, including approximately 185,000 sq ft of cutting-edge research and development facilities. These spaces are designed to support improved health outcomes locally and globally, helping people live healthier, longer lives.

As part of the architectural team alongside Allies and Morrison, DSDHA has refined the overall masterplan and is responsible for the public realm, tying together the pedestrian experience across the three plots. The landscape draws inspiration from Southwark's rich heritage of medicinal plants and healing gardens and was designed to provide a sensory experience for visitors. The proposals feature interactive planting beds designed to stimulate all five senses, improved streetscapes with native and seasonal plantings, vertical greening along constrained areas, and enhanced park edge conditions. Five new street trees and extensive biodiverse planting will significantly increase urban greening, while improved pavement widths and integrated seating create welcoming gathering spaces. The connection to Guy Street Park has been emphasised to create a stronger pedestrian link between the historic green space and the local community, creating a healthier, more vibrant public realm. Plot 1, designed by DSDHA, will be a key life sciences building and the western gateway to the Snowsfields Quarter masterplan. Situated at a crucial junction between the hospital campus to the north and the surrounding neighbourhood to the south, this prominent site serves as a visual anchor for the development. Its strategic location enhances connectivity across the area, strengthening links between Snowsfields Quarter, Guy’s Hospital, and the wider community.