Pensaer has been appointed by the Capocci family to lead the transformation of their former ice cream depot in Hackney into a new residential neighbourhood: the Ice Cream Quarter. Where once vans, freezers and crates of gelato filled the yard, the site will now accommodate around 30 new homes arranged across a series of modestly scaled blocks and mews houses.
The mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, alongside duplex and family-sized homes at ground level, is designed to support a varied community while maintaining a clear, coherent character. Homes are organised around shared courtyards and pedestrian routes, with front doors and balconies overlooking the spaces between – encouraging neighbourliness and everyday interaction.
The architectural language is rooted in the industrial and residential fabric of Hackney. Robust brickwork forms the primary massing, complemented by carefully detailed stone elements and finely proportioned metalwork to give depth and rhythm to the façades. Timber-framed windows and generous openings introduce warmth, light and a sense of domesticity. The palette is deliberately calm and enduring, intended to weather gracefully and sit comfortably within the surrounding streets.
The story of the site reaches back to the small Italian and London families who built their livelihoods here through the ice cream trade. The new development is conceived as a continuation of that legacy – a place for new generations to live, grow and put down roots. Ice Cream Quarter aims to balance private, well-crafted homes with shared spaces that feel open and welcoming, contributing positively to the evolving character of Hackney while quietly acknowledging the working history that shaped it.
