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Sunday 1 April 2012

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



perforated cladding finish
image © tim brotherton

bike workshop
image © tim brotherton



night view
image © 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

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