Major Project: Creating Circular Communities (Kingston School of Art)
The Challenge
Revitalize the underutilized Fife Road (1970s brutalist Former PC World) by creating a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable space for the community.
​
The Vision
​
To transform this adaptive re-use project into a multi-purpose hub, I proposed a co-workspace, green-space, and organic café concept. Situated in a prime location between Kingston Station and Kingston Market Place, this mixed-use development offers a variety of spaces for work and leisure. The concept includes an organic café, internal garden, co-working spaces, talk-spaces, meeting rooms, private offices, urban farm, and an open-air garden.
​
One of the key challenges was the building's original concrete frame that blocked natural light and prevented engagement with nature. To overcome this, the design aims to create an open and fluid environment by implementing an Aquaponics system and urban farming units, which provide salad greens for the organic café. This concept of self-sufficiency ties in with the area's historical background as an orchard in the late 18th/early 19th century.
​
The urban farm and garden are designed for co-workers to visit during their lunch break or as part of their 'Walk in the Greenhouse' experience, accessible via a delicate steel staircase. The roof and rear walls are made of glass, connecting the building to its surroundings and nature by bringing the outside, in. Additionally, the copper-clad rooms extending out of the facade and into the greenhouse reflect sunlight during the day, bringing the building to life and adding warmth to the existing concrete structure.
​
By promoting sustainability and community engagement, this adaptive re-use project aims to create a unique, sustainable and thriving working neighbourhood, attracting environmentally conscious individuals.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |
The Thames Boat Project (Kingston School of Art)
The Challenge
​
This project aims to repurpose a boat into a mobile community center for a refugee group in Kingston, in collaboration with the artist Ben Judd.
​
The Vision
The mobile community center is designed to be adaptable to the needs of the users, with a flexible exterior structure that can be configured to accommodate a variety of activities. The panels on the exterior can be fixed to the top of the boat during movement and manually pulled out onto the mooring site when stationary.
The interior features partitions that can be used to create divisions between public and private spaces, allowing for the organization of workshops and other activities.
​
The artist, Ben Judd, will work with the refugees and the local community to create murals and installations that will personalize the space and help create a sense of belonging for the refugees. The mobile community center will travel along the River Thames, promoting cultural exchange and integration, while providing a space for the refugee community to connect, learn, and grow.
 |  |
|---|