Creative Wellbeing Space
Office
S&M is working for Newham Council to deliver a new 600m²
arts led community space with wellbeing at its heart.
During the last three years, Office S&M has worked closely with the operator, local charity Rosetta Arts, the council, and Green Street residents to make sure the new space is inviting and comfortable for people local to Green Street. We have co-designed the space with local people through focus meetings and online surveys, paid interviews and collage workshops, 1:1 drawings and even Minecraft! This will make sure the space is welcoming and fit for purpose for residents of Green Street.
The
scheme is one of four projects that make up the Queen’s Market Good Growth
Programme, which has been jointly funded by the Council and the Mayor of London
as part of the ‘Towards a Better Newham’ Covid-19 Recovery Strategy.
The project fronts onto Queens Square, which will be opened up as much as possible, linking to this space and incorporating greenery to look out onto. There will be six studios for artists working in socially engaged practices, while the centre of the scheme will become the main multifunctional Green Rooms East space, and on the other side there is a proposed new café and kitchen. On the first floor, a residency or workshop space will sit above the artist studios. Rosetta Arts will move their office here, with a flexible meeting room and breakout space, as well as a dedicated sensory room and storage.
The project fronts onto Queens Square, which will be opened up as much as possible, linking to this space and incorporating greenery to look out onto. There will be six studios for artists working in socially engaged practices, while the centre of the scheme will become the main multifunctional Green Rooms East space, and on the other side there is a proposed new café and kitchen. On the first floor, a residency or workshop space will sit above the artist studios. Rosetta Arts will move their office here, with a flexible meeting room and breakout space, as well as a dedicated sensory room and storage.
‘
The Office
S&M team really delve deep to understand the people and the place, through
listening and asking all the right questions. By understanding the collective
ambitions and developing a process that supports the outcomes we all want to
achieve, they design ideas that reflect these community conversations and more
importantly tell a story that makes it more meaningful and relevant.‘
Roger Austin, Regeneration Manager at London Borough of Newham
The project will be delivered through community wealth building via local contractors, and Office S&M has subcontracted its fee to local surveyors, consultants, and artists, and spent project money on materials, printing, and refreshments with local retailers. Community wealth building is at the core of how the practice delivers its work, and the final space will have windows, stairs and furniture made by local fabricators. This ensures money is put back directly into the pockets of local people, and is a key part of how we approach all projects.
Detaile
Location: Newham, LondonProject: Community space
Client: London Borough of Newham
Completed: May 2023
Team
Collaborative architect: Astrain ScheldtEmpathy Mapping: Sahra Hersi
Wellbeing: Ekkist
Artist: Willkay
Photographer: Jim Stephenson
Contractor: TBC
Building Control: London Borough of Newham
Engineers: Simple Works
QS: BWA
MEP: EDP Environmental and Hive Design
