Prototype of the Community Hub at the rear podium of the university's Marylebone campus
Community Hub Live Project
Together with staff and students from the University of Westminster, we are in the process of designing and building a new QHT-funded Live Community Hub.
The project aims to be a beacon of community engagement inspiring young people. A series of co-creation workshops support activities for young people in the area.
Students engaged in public engagement to better understand the needs and aspirations of locals. Students then developed designs for a visionary community hub based on the initial research.
As a first step, we developed a 1:1 prototype, which is currently situated at the rear podium at our Marylebone Campus. The design is based on a triangular modular system and two alternating modules have been built with students’ help in collaboration with Mervyn Rodrigues Associates, Jan Kattein and BloQs. The prototype includes a lightweight translucent polycarbonate roof providing protection and will be used to experiment with innovative cladding solutions including ideas of upcycling and developing co-creation methodologies with the local community.
Students gain direct, hands-on experience of the planning and construction process, enhancing and broadening their range of skills, and developing their confidence through dealing with stakeholders and construction professionals.
www.openstudiowestminster.org/live-design-practice/community-hub-live-project/
Testing individually designed and hand-made hexagon ceramic tiles
Construction of the prototype with students and BloQs
Testing individual cladding ideas on the Prototype
