Projects - Community

Community Facilities, Press House, Neasden

Ground breaking project to provide facilities for three groups within the local community. Located in a series of top lit and internal spaces at the base of a small tower block otherwise used for temporary accommodation for homeless families, the project is designed to encourage improved relations between the community user groups with facilities that can be shared or used independently. The three space types are: community and management facilities for the building residents, community spaces for use by the residents of the adjoining housing estate, and a day centre for Homeless Families in Brent - to include advice and advocacy, primary medical care, classes in English, computing etc., a crèche and a lounge and kitchen/laundry for day to day use by Homeless families. The project will also include a Community Garden.

Designed with user consultation at all stages, the design intention for the whole scheme has been to create within a limited budget spaces that have a strong character without being either institutional or domestic. The choice of materials, colours and a clear and simple sequence of spaces make distinctive 'places'.