Abbey Area Phase 1 is the first phase of Camden Council’s Abbey Area regeneration project and sits at the road junction of Abbey Road and Belsize Road, with the West Coast rail line forming the boundary to the south. 

In total there are six block, comprising 141 units, with entrances on Belsize Road. The lower blocks are 6 storey with a taller landmark building of 14 storeys on the junction of Belsize Road and Abbey Road. The development is constructed in two contrasting bricks, with a combination of recessed and projecting balconies. The elevations vary in treatment to respond to their outlook and the type of accommodation within. 

For the lower blocks along Belsize Road, one brick colour forms the main body of the building and a contrasting colour forms protruding bays to both the Belsize Road and Railway elevations. The brickwork forming the main body of the building terminates at the road junction of Abbey Road and Belsize Road to form the 14-storey landmark building. This landmark building forms the corner stone of the Abbey Area regeneration project and can be seen in long views from the surrounding districts and neighbouring conservation areas.

Further contrast in the built form is utilised by two different approaches to balconies. Recessed balconies are lined with brickwork with metal railed balustrades. Whilst projecting balconies have perforated metal balustrades.

On the north face the contrasting brick bays help to break down the scale on this elevation and introduce a vertical rhythm that responds to the scale and rhythm of neighbouring Villas within the conservation area. The bays differ in storey height, revealing the main body of the building in the contrasting brick behind. Where there are entrances to residential accommodation, the bays are lifted to first floor and red glazed brick has been used to celebrate the entrances. At entrances to non-residential accommodation, stone surrounds highlight the change in ground floor use. Differing brick detailing is focused at the lower levels, especially around entrances. 

The southern face, looking onto the railway, the bays differ in storey height revealing the main body of the building in the contrasting brick behind. 

The treatment of the landmark building has been carefully designed to not compete with the two neighbouring towers. The form of the building has been carefully considered so that the acute and oblique angles give the appearance of a building that is always diminishing. The use of inset balconies and other recesses break down the form of the building. The treatment of the building at the upper most floors, expresses the change in accommodation, where duplex apartments are introduced. There is use of brick clad lintels and the reveals gradually get deeper as you go up the building from flush finish at the lower levels to deep at the top level. This creates a strong visual emphasis around the windows and also provides a subtle method of shading in the summer.