featherstone young: providence row activity centre

‘providence row activity centre’ by featherstone young in london, united kingdom all images courtesy featherstone young image © tim brotherton

london-based architecture studio featherstone young (sarah featherstone, jeremy young) has sent us images of ‘providence row activity centre’, a multi-storey arts and office building for a homelessness charity in east london, united kingdom. providing a range of structured and meaningful activities for the users, the new facility features a ground floor bike workshop that focuses on developing useful skills towards employment.

exterior view image © tim brotherton

conceived as an extension of a pre-existing day care facility on an adjacent site, the project’s main challenge was to animate the under-used courtyard and improve connections and flow between the two buildings. the landlocked plot allows for one active facade that maximizes on its permeability and visibility. the most prominent feature of the elevation is a partially cantilevering level which extends out in shifting angles towards the main day centre. accommodating a studio for visual and performing arts, the activities of the space within is projected outwards to gain a transparent presence within the site. the angles of the faceted windows orient the floor away from the street and towards the main centre, giving privacy for users and valuable passive surveillance for staff members.

interior view of art studio image © tim brotherton

opening up into the courtyard, a large set of doors provide access to the ground floor workshop. the widely-hinging aperture provide natural light to enter the space as well as encourages activity to spill over outdoors. in order to maintain maximum flexibility for a variety of functions and activities, the floor plan is kept open with built in storage options. offices are accommodated on the upper level with a zig-zagging terrace that follows the language of the facade. finished in bright perforated cladding panels of green and yellow, the bold exterior is a commentary on the invisibility of homeless people.

office level looking out onto terrace interior view of ground floor workshop image © tim brotherton

storage image © tim brotherton

roof light image © tim brotherton

(left) funnel of roof light (right) zig-zagging balcony line images © tim brotherton

project info:

client: providence row gross internal floor area: 367 m2 structural engineer: conisbee environmental consultant: FES (future energy surveys) quantity surveyor: burke hunter adams project manager: featherstone young main contractor: john perkins projects