The Old Manor Park Library in Newham, London, is to be transformed into a new workspace for creative businesses and artists by architects Nicholas Lobo Brennan and Astrid Smitham, who were appointed by the arts organisation Create. The duo want to bring back the Edwardian features of the Grade II listed Carnegie building, whilst redesigning it into an adaptable public space where collaboration and community projects will be encouraged. Create is working alongside Bow Arts and Newham Council on the project, which is being backed by £177,000 from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson's High Street fund.
The building was once a working library, but has been shut for three-years. When it reopens in October it will be repurposed as affordable studios for creatives, and will also house the Rabbit’s Road institute for The Alternative School of Economics. The institute (which will be led by artists Ruth Beale and Amy Feneck) will encompass a new library and an artist-led public programme of study sessions, events, lectures, performances and social gatherings. Brennan and Smitham, who are based in London and Zurich respectively, formerly worked for architectural collective Gruppe, but are now in the process of forming their own practice with Grade II conversion expert Phillip Ryan.
The Old Manor Park Library in Newham is to be transformed into a new workspace for creative businesses and artists
The duo won the job in May with their response to the challenge of conserving the historical richness of the building whilst offering a new type of public building for London's creative industries. They arrived at their solution by looking at other municipal learning spaces and the history of the Manor House building itself by engaging local suppliers and volunteers. The building will be stripped back to reveal its original Edwardian features, though whilst the redesign is to be inspired by these features, both architects have stressed that the purpose of the project is geared towards the future, not the past.
Near the entrance a new front-of-house space will be designed, whilst Create will be given the back studio, and the upstairs will be run by Bow Arts. In the hope of fostering welcoming but secure work spaces, an arcade-style corridor will run through the studios on each floor. Low partition walls made of timber and glass will be installed to delineate the spaces, as this was the style used in Edwardian architecture in many Carnegie buildings, and the duo wanted the construction to become part of the design process.
The project is being led by architects Nicholas Lobo Brennan and Astrid Smitham, who were appointed by the arts organisation Create
These elements of the new interior will be transparent and moveable, allowing for a freely adaptable space, meaning that temporary spaces can be created as they are needed for various events and lessons. Walls, doors and windows will be made from oiled oak timber and toughened glass and everything will be bespoke using traditional English joinery. Brennan’s team will design the furniture in the front of house area, and whilst some of the studios will be furnished, others will be left for the occupants to furnish as they see fit.
Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales, said of the project: “This fantastic initiative will not just bring this Grade II listed building back to life but turn it into an innovative vibrant cultural space that can be used and enjoyed by the local community. We want to help budding local artists further develop their skills and we want other local residents to be able to enjoy the vast amount of artistic talent we have in Newham. The revamped centre will benefit the whole community by hosting a range of other activities including training and employment advice.”
The new library has been inspired by the Victorian “Free Library” movement, and will strive to ask what creative businesses can bring to a neighbourhood
When its completed in October, the new building will encourage knowledge and skill-sharing, with a network to support making and research planned to be in place to help the designers, artists and creative businesses that move in to the space. The new library has been inspired by the Victorian “Free Library” movement, and will according to Create, strive to ask what creative businesses can bring to a neighbourhood through skill sharing and the reimagining of a municipal heritage building.
