LJ Works
working with local community stakeholders and civic partners to design and deliver 2,000m2 of affordable co-working space, studios, flexible maker space and a food business incubator scheme
00 worked in close collaboration with Public Works to deliver a London Regeneration Fund-backed LJ:Works in Loughborough Junction, a light-weight multi-functional, workspace complex in a gap site which includes a makerspace, studios, kitchen incubator, co-work space, canteen/cafe and other community focused programs (hire-able space for parties/ education/ classes etc).
This will be integrated with the Farm as a Green Yard, retaining 585sqm of the growing space with 1350sqm of new workspace in total. This combination of uses is aimed at accelerating local entrepreneurship and new ways of working in the highly diverse Loughborough Junction.
The cafe, which holds the entrance to the co-work space, will have a street presence and act as a gatehouse for the project bookended by the new greenhouse which gives the growing program visibility and creates a strong, active frontage to the project.
The affordable workspace focuses on the local community collaboration, helping local people start new small businesses, and grow existing ones, and providing opportunities for local residents to get involved in the project during and after the build process.
Location: Loughborough Junction, Brixton
Client: Lambeth Council
Architecture00
Public Works
Programme: August 2016 – ongoing
Area: 2000m2
Cost: £2million
Press
Collaborative Process
The project was initiated through a collaboration of local community facing groups and the site occupies the community growing project funded by the Mayors Regeneration Fund allowing the Farm to remain and be integrated with the new workspace aiming to address local unemployment issues and bringing local industry, culture and growing together in one space as supportive ecosystem.
The Project is being led by Lambeth Council and initially operated by Meanwhile Space CIC. After 5 years, a Community Asset Transfer will take place handing over management responsibilities to the steering group of local organisations which initiated it (Loughborough Estate Management Board, Loughborough Farm, Marcus Lipton Youth Centre, Loughborough Junction Action Group, Loughborough Estate Tenants and Residents Association).
