We work with communities at scale and over the long term.
Almost our first practice project in 1989 was for a group of residents on London’s South Bank that had formed Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB), a not-for-profit company set up to promote affordable homes and workshops. We’ve continued to work on the South Bank over the past 35 years for CSCB, for local businesses and boroughs designing co-op homes and workplaces, pocket parks and playing fields, craft shops many kinds of temporary buildings. We are currently designing a large leisure centre and affordable homes funded by around 200 market apartments.
Our collaboration with NY artist Leo Villareal combined art and architecture in sequenced patterns of light illuminating nine Thames bridges. This epic scheme extends over two World Heritage sites and five London Boroughs. In preparation we engaged with over 80 community groups on the river, plus local businesses, commuters, river users, visitors and passers-by. Alongside, we consulted with politicians, planners and experts in river ecology. We walked the site with residents to understand how they used the bridges for leisure and commuting. In turn we provided expert briefings to build their understanding of environment and wildlife.
