Creative Responses to Zombie High Streets - an open Discussion Panel
Redundancy
We find ourselves increasingly engaged in the task of repurposing the ugly or unloved buildings constructed in the latter half of the
20th century. Some of these were built for retail, some for entertainment and some were public buildings –but all are being abandoned by a society that has moved on.
Through a combination of research and project work we are developing a number of potential solutions for the creative reuse of buildings that are still structurally sound although functionally redundant – uses such as affordable town centre residential, creative workspace, community cinemas, food halls in repurposed space are all under development or being implemented
Raw is Beautiful
Alongside this, the collective aesthetic trends towards the post-industrial raw, the unembellished, the impure, the repair, the patina of use, the spontaneous, all of which is informing the spaces we create. Space is not seen as something that needs to be designed but rather as a host for events and experiences which come and go, changing the meaning of spaces as they do so, like set designs, like exhibition rooms….
Technology
Meanwhile the relentless march of technology changes the way we live, work, shop, play, move, communicate and relate to each other and our environment….
This is an open invitation to participate in a 60 minute discussion panel at our studio in Kentish Town with some of our clients and collaborators. We have 6 places available on a first come first served basis – all that is required is a point of view and a desire to share.
panellists to include:
Sam Neophytou Art House Cinemas
Walter Menteth Architect
Carmel Keren Researcher at the RCA
Alex O’Kane Retail Designer
Jeremy Thornton Manager of Architecture at John Lewis Partnership
Gary Lewis Managing Director - Moorgarth Ltd
Jessie Lea Senior Programme Manager – Catford Town Centre Regeneration
Preston Benson Really Local Group
click on the link to see the report
Report - Creative Responses to Zombie High Streets