Design for London: BOROUGHS

In parrallel with public realm works, Design for London are developing work around the creation of a cultural hub in Hackney Wick Fish Island (HWFI) that will help cement the area’s unique character in the face of new development. The aim of the Hackney Wick Cultural Hub project is to create a multi-use, affordable, public-facing facility to support and host cultural and creative activities in HWFI for the period before, during and after the 2012 Olympic Games. This will be established in an existing historic building, strategically located opposite the Olympic Park, on the canalside where a 5 to 10 year lease will be taken on to enable the project to happen.

The project objectives are to use of the White Building to:

• support the promotion of HWFI as an major hub for London’s creative sector;

• to facilitate a range of opportunities for the creative activities already in HWFI to benefit the surrounding residential communities, and;

• to provide space and facilities to enable the existing creative organisations and artists based in HWFI to develop a strong national and international profile.

Design for London appointed SPACE to manage the building and develop the project in detail. The White Building will be transformed into a publically accessible creative facility. A key focus will be to develop artistic programmes to showcase leading creative and innovative approaches to the intersection of art, technology and sustainability. The proposed elements of the facility are:

• an out-reach educational programme for local 11-14 year-olds to be able to undertake apprenticeships and collaborative programmes with artists on technology projects, increasing their interest and career aspirations in IT, design technology and new media.

• an international artist residency programme which will focus on issues around creativity and sustainability.

• A flexible space on the first floor for use as a gallery, performance/ rehearsal space, event space for hire, schools space etc, with views across the Olympic site. This space will be available to hire to generate revenue to fund the community programmes.

• a public café and event space opening onto the canalside to establish an accessible, shared place for local residents and artists and a destination visitors to the area.

In August 2010, Design for London ran an invited design competition to refurbish the White Building in Hackney Wick. The competition was for young architecture practices to come up with ideas to turn this historic canalside building next to the Olympic Park into the Hackney Wick Cultural Hub.

The 28 practices shortlisted for the Young Architecture of the Year Awards 2009 were invited to submit proposals. There were 16 entrants to the competition with 5 shortlisted for interview: these were David Kohn Architects, Gort Scott Architects, Glowacka Rennie, Duggan Morris and Union North. David Kohn Architects with Exploration Architecture were appointed. A planning application for the building was submitted in December 2010. The building benefits from canal frontage that will also be part of improvement works to be designed by Muf Architecture Art, an opportunity for a public space and lends itself to host a range of possible activities.

Partners: London Development Agency, London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, British Waterways, Olympic Park Legacy Company, SPACE, Arts Council, 5HB unit, Art in the Open, local business associations and community groups