This year, studio 3.1 focused on designing proposal located in places we feel connected to. We were to reflect on our experience of the past year regarding the global pandemic as well as what we observed around us of our civic infrastructure failing us. We used this knowledge to design a proposal that would hopefully provide the local community with what the current architectural culture deprived them of.
My project is based in my hometown of Greenford, West London. Although a dynamic community, like others, it was also affected by the afore mentioned issues. Wanting to provide a solution, I designed a multi-use community centre that would enrich the local population but could also face adversity in a methodical and more successful manner if needed.
This palace for the people is just that – for the people. It’s for them to adopt and become comfortable with; to allow them to carry out the activities they wish to. Whether it’s an early morning yoga class, a theatrical play, a weekly congregational prayer, or all the above taking place simultaneously, this proposal is meant to serve the local community’s needs.
It’s also designed to serve arguably their biggest need – safety. If need be, the internal spaces can be isolated from each other, and can be divided further in smaller sub-spaces, increasing the versatility of use. These spaces can be made into a make-shift clinic, a screening lab, a vaccine centre, a temporary hospital, an isolation centre, and so much more.
This is the palace for my people. It’s a sign of what’s to come next. Moments of traditional, single-use architecture have made their mark in history, but it’s evident they have many drawbacks. This proposal aims to move architectural dialogue towards in more versatile direction.