The proposals involve upgrading and overcladding the existing building, which will be reconfigured to address its poor circulation and to house a series of ‘highly flexible’ spaces.
Amandeep Singh Kalra, associate director of place and design at Be First, said: ‘There was a lot of interest for this project. We chose to appoint RCKa because of their passion for meaningful community-led design and their creative approach to repurposing existing spaces, particularly on projects such as the Nourish Hub.
‘A crucial aspect of our project is to minimise its operational emissions, with the goal of achieving our first-ever retrofitted BREEAM-rated building in the borough.’
RCKa, which has already worked on a series of successful community-focused projects, including the award-winning Nourish Hub in west London, carried out an extensive programme of engagement with local youngsters to develop a ‘project narrative’ for the Padnall Hall job.
The project is being delivered with support from the DCMS Youth Investment Fund, which is currently helping to develop and revamp 300 youth facilities across England.
The practice was appointed this summer by Be First, the regeneration arm of Barking and Dagenham Council, via the rebooted ADUP 3 tendering talent pool, now officially known as the Architecture + Urbanism Framework.
The practice wants to convert the long-derelict and vandalised Padnall Hall in the heart of Chadwell Heath’s Marks Gate Estate, one of Barking and Dagenham Council’s most deprived and isolated areas.
According to RCKa, the scheme will redevelop and comprehensively refurbish an existing community hall that has stood empty for 15 years and bring it back into productive use ‘as a welcoming beacon for local community activity’.
Work is expected to begin in spring next year for completion towards the end of 2024.
The studio said it plans to co-create a programme of activities which ‘not only up-skills and involves young people in the built fabric of the project, but also fosters connections that can identify local partners and future custodians of the building’ to ensure the scheme’s long-term viability and to nurture a ‘deep-rooted sense of ownership’.
