LONDON DESIGN CO-OPERATIVES CO-DB & R-A-R-A COMPLETE THE RENOVATION OF THE NATIONAL TEMPERANCE HOSPITAL FOR CAMDEN COLLECTIVE
The Insull Wing, National Temperance Hospital will be used by Camden Collective to support the growth of up to 300 start-up businesses until it is demolished as part of HS2 developments at Euston
The former site of the National Temperance Hospital is the first meanwhile use building adopted by HS2 as a community space and will be a pilot for others along the route
The 5-storey 3,000 sq.m art deco hospital in Euston has been lying vacant since 2006 and the project will give the building a new lease of life, drawing new people to the area and cementing the link between Euston and Camden Town.
The team of co-db x R-A-R-A won an invited design competition beating three other shortlisted proposals and have taken a collaborative approach to meeting the needs of Collective members with a flexible and creative solution to help new businesses to grow.
The co-db x R-A-R-A design includes two large co-working spaces, kitchen, classroom, boardroom, meeting rooms, self-contained offices and a new entrance to create an active, and welcoming presence on the high street.
Camden Collective at Temperance Hospital received funding of £150,000 through the Mayor of London’s £9m High Street Fund, which was matched by Camden Town Unlimited, the business improvement district for Camden
The Mayor’s High Street fund is supporting creativity and innovation as a way to breathe new life into the heart of London’s diverse communities. To thrive, High Streets need to be about more than just retail, and this initiative seeks to unlock new opportunities in the area through a low cost, creative re-use of an existing building to support the local innovation sector
The Collective programme couples affordable co-working space with training and development opportunities, mentoring and business support, in a creative and collaborative community atmosphere
Chairman 0f the Mayor’s Design Advisory Group, Daniel Moylan, said:
“I am thrilled to support a project that tackles many of the challenges faced by London’s high streets, in such a positive and creative way. This new hub will support local young people, businesses and entrepreneurs to grow into the business leaders of the future and ensure creative enterprise remains at the heart of the economy in the Camden and Euston area.”
Simon Pitkeathley, CEO, Camden Town Unlimited said:
“Making productive use of this otherwise vacant or underused building will enhance the links between Euston and Camden Town. co-db and R-A-R-A have carried out a design that enhances the already dramatic atmosphere and history of the building to create an exciting workspace to support local entrepreneurs.”
co-db x R-A-R-A said:
“Our strategy of stripping out years of aggregated institutional partitioning and servicing has seen the ground floor of Temperance returned to a beautifully clear and light series of interconnected spaces. Whether it’s floors, wall panels, built-in storage or mobile furniture all our new additions sit distinct from the original fabric, as clean forms designed for specific contemporary uses. Everything we have introduced to the building has been created with the energy and enthusiasm of its end-users in mind, and is as adaptable as possible.”
About the design:
The building is the 15th that Camden Collective’s have refurbished since 2009
The design/build budget was £80,000 and the refurbishment took 14 weeks to complete
The triple height main co-working space includes a moveable wall, stage and furniture that enables varied use of the space and has the capacity to seat 200 people for large events
The custom furniture has coloured HPL plywood tops and hand holes that allowing easy repositioning and the tables to be hung when stored
The kitchen design re-uses fixtures and fittings from elsewhere in the building and knocked down walls to include a large communal table that seats 15
Built in bench seating, coffee tables and soft lighting provide informal meeting areas
The design cut holes and knocked down existing walls within the steel frame structure to create different levels of privacy within the co-working space and retain the buzz of the community throughout the refurbished spaces on the upper floor.
A series of supporting private office spaces can be customised by tenants to meet their needs
The entrance re-uses materials from the furniture to create a patchwork of reclaimed timber that wraps around the entrance and creates a welcoming visual presence for the Collective community as part of the high street.
The boardroom design knocked down walls and includes a 20 person table with LED lighting and custom storage features
The green roof disguises the decaying glass roof and includes feature planting to soften enhance acoustics of the space
Notes to Editors:
About the project:
Camden Collective will use Temperance Hospital to support the creation and development of new and early stage businesses in an eco-system where like-minded entrepreneurs can cluster, cooperate and compete.
The project will bridge the skills gap and forge greater links between Camden’s creative firms, the local economy and young people by providing a series of coding courses and business mentoring accelerator courses for local Camden residents.
The project will also carry out a series of temporary artwork and cultural installations in the Euston area during summer 2016.
About Camden Collective:
Camden Collective is a multi-award winning project run by Camden Town Unlimited, the business improvement district (BID) for Camden Town since 2009. Camden Collective is a regeneration project that acquires vacant and underused spaces and refurbishes them to create new employment spaces, helping support people into employment and setting up their own businesses.
More information here: www.camdencollective.co.uk
About the Mayor’s High Street Fund:
The High Street Fund is the latest in a series of funding rounds, which started in 2011 with the Outer London Fund, aimed specifically at helping London’s high streets to adapt and thrive. These initiatives are part of the Mayor’s £129 million investment in high streets that has already helped 56 high streets across London and attracted £56 million of match funding from public and private sector partners.
More information here: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/high-street-fund-awards
About Camden Town Unlimited:
Camden Town Unlimited (CTU) is the Business Improvement District (BID) for Camden Town. CTU is elected by the approximately 300 local businesses to improve Camden Town as a place to work, live and visit.
Working with a number of partners including Camden Council, TfL, GLA, Central Government and key private sector stakeholders, CTU advocate, initiate and deliver projects that improve the viability, visibility and commercial performance of Camden Town as a business location.
More information here: www.camdentownunlimited.com
About co-db:
Collaborative Design and Build (Co-DB) is a team of designers, makers and problem solvers who work on a wide variety of built environment projects. With an architectural background and a number of years experience in woodworking and joinery we follow a co-design methodology, using our specialisms to enhance and enliven other people’s intuitive knowledge. Our work spans full design and build services, facilitated design workshops, and action based research. With a developing expertise in process-led design for creative workspaces and learning environments, we always work hard to engage and empower stakeholders right throughout a project.
More information here: www.co-db.uk
About R-A-R-A:
The Redundant Architects Recreation Association (RARA) is an open access co-operative workspace established in Clapton providing long and short term users with affordable space in which to do anything and everything. Over the past 6 years RARA has built a network of architects, builders, artists, makers, writers and designers allowing a unique approach to a range of diverse projects. Since it began RARA has been supporting its members in their practice, helping them to carry out personally directed creative projects with an economically and ecologically sustainable approach. Whether it’s brewing ale, making models, organising events or getting on site for a design and build project RARA always brings the same energy and enthusiasm to the party.
More information here: www.r-a-r-a.com
Camden Collective will offer tours of the building at the opening evening on Thursday 4th February
For enquiries please contact Georgie Street on 020 7380 8260 or georgie@camdentownunlimited.com
Representatives from co-db x R-A-R-A, CTU and the GLA are available for interview and comment
Hi-res images and technical drawing are available to download here. Please credit as appropriate
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