2019-23
Cockpit Arts Deptford,
Cockpit Arts Deptford
Cockpit Arts Deptford
A transformative project to open up Cockpit for the benefit its makers and the local community. Our proposal for the redevelopment of Cockpit’s studio building in Deptford was awarded £2.3 million from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund and the Stride partnership. Currently on site, the project is helping to make Cockpit more publicly accessible - literally and figuratively - and support it in its mission to support makers.
Critical need
The need to safeguard and increase the number of affordable studio spaces in London is critical. Our project enables Cockpit to accommodate an additional 21 businesses onsite and to support 26 new jobs. It also creates a new woodworking hub, two new education and community spaces, a pop up café and garden.
This is a landmark moment in Cockpit’s history, supported and enabled by our work with the organisation from 2019 onwards. The award-winning charity and social enterprise has operated in Deptford since 2002, where it is currently home to over 60 makers and microbusinesses, working in more than 20 different crafts.
Critical need
The need to safeguard and increase the number of affordable studio spaces in London is critical. Our project enables Cockpit to accommodate an additional 21 businesses onsite and to support 26 new jobs. It also creates a new woodworking hub, two new education and community spaces, a pop up café and garden.
This is a landmark moment in Cockpit’s history, supported and enabled by our work with the organisation from 2019 onwards. The award-winning charity and social enterprise has operated in Deptford since 2002, where it is currently home to over 60 makers and microbusinesses, working in more than 20 different crafts.
Critical need
The need to safeguard and increase the number of affordable studio spaces in London is critical. Our project enables Cockpit to accommodate an additional 21 businesses onsite and to support 26 new jobs. It also creates a new woodworking hub, two new education and community spaces, a pop up café and garden.
This is a landmark moment in Cockpit’s history, supported and enabled by our work with the organisation from 2019 onwards. The award-winning charity and social enterprise has operated in Deptford since 2002, where it is currently home to over 60 makers and microbusinesses, working in more than 20 different crafts.
Process
Our involvement has been from the earliest “what if...” discussions through feasibility and design development, supporting Cockpit with multiple funding bids, successful planning processes and the engagement of diverse stakeholders.
The existing building was built in the 1960's. A former council office building superimposed on a former light industrial wharf, the combination of flexible cellular spaces surrounded by robust outdoor space has proven ideal for makers - yet the richness of the activities behind its doors has been largely obscured to the public until now.
Our project focuses on reorganising the ground floor - inside and out - to unlock underused space. New education spaces at ground floor play an important role in making Cockpit more open, inviting and accessible, while meeting growing demand for events and practical workshops.
Process
Our involvement has been from the earliest “what if...” discussions through feasibility and design development, supporting Cockpit with multiple funding bids, successful planning processes and the engagement of diverse stakeholders.
The existing building was built in the 1960's. A former council office building superimposed on a former light industrial wharf, the combination of flexible cellular spaces surrounded by robust outdoor space has proven ideal for makers - yet the richness of the activities behind its doors has been largely obscured to the public until now.
Our project focuses on reorganising the ground floor - inside and out - to unlock underused space. New education spaces at ground floor play an important role in making Cockpit more open, inviting and accessible, while meeting growing demand for events and practical workshops.
Process
Our involvement has been from the earliest “what if...” discussions through feasibility and design development, supporting Cockpit with multiple funding bids, successful planning processes and the engagement of diverse stakeholders.
The existing building was built in the 1960's. A former council office building superimposed on a former light industrial wharf, the combination of flexible cellular spaces surrounded by robust outdoor space has proven ideal for makers - yet the richness of the activities behind its doors has been largely obscured to the public until now.
Our project focuses on reorganising the ground floor - inside and out - to unlock underused space. New education spaces at ground floor play an important role in making Cockpit more open, inviting and accessible, while meeting growing demand for events and practical workshops.
A new entrance
The creation of a new entrance to the building - punching through the wall that currently shields it from Creekside - gives Cockpit a new public face, enriching the creative identity of Creekside. The wall opening offers a direct line of sight, through the front entrance, foyer and pop-up cafe space, out to the rear yard and new studio building.
A new entrance
The creation of a new entrance to the building - punching through the wall that currently shields it from Creekside - gives Cockpit a new public face, enriching the creative identity of Creekside. The wall opening offers a direct line of sight, through the front entrance, foyer and pop-up cafe space, out to the rear yard and new studio building.
A new entrance
The creation of a new entrance to the building - punching through the wall that currently shields it from Creekside - gives Cockpit a new public face, enriching the creative identity of Creekside. The wall opening offers a direct line of sight, through the front entrance, foyer and pop-up cafe space, out to the rear yard and new studio building.
Developed for a circular economy
Working with Cockpit’s community of makers has been a great opportunity to better understand which qualities of the original building invite studio use. Ensuring those characteristics don’t get lost in the redevelopment has been a vital part of our process.
The project exemplifies our deep interest in retrofit and secures the future of a building previously threatened with demolition.
The design has been developed for a circular economy by: conserving existing building material fabric; repurposing building materials available onsite; recycling materials that must be removed during construction; specifying new material with high recycled content and low embodied energy.
Developed for a circular economy
Working with Cockpit’s community of makers has been a great opportunity to better understand which qualities of the original building invite studio use. Ensuring those characteristics don’t get lost in the redevelopment has been a vital part of our process.
The project exemplifies our deep interest in retrofit and secures the future of a building previously threatened with demolition.
The design has been developed for a circular economy by: conserving existing building material fabric; repurposing building materials available onsite; recycling materials that must be removed during construction; specifying new material with high recycled content and low embodied energy.
Developed for a circular economy
Working with Cockpit’s community of makers has been a great opportunity to better understand which qualities of the original building invite studio use. Ensuring those characteristics don’t get lost in the redevelopment has been a vital part of our process.
The project exemplifies our deep interest in retrofit and secures the future of a building previously threatened with demolition.
The design has been developed for a circular economy by: conserving existing building material fabric; repurposing building materials available onsite; recycling materials that must be removed during construction; specifying new material with high recycled content and low embodied energy.
Passive design principles
Passive design principles have informed the orientation, form and massing of a new makers’ studio block that we are also building onsite - unlocking under-utilised space in the backyard.
The intention is to achieve exemplary low-energy standards in areas we’re working on – for example with a new façade for the ground floor areas of the existing building, and the construction of a new wood workshop.
In collaboration with Max Fordham LLP, we are introducing air source heat pumps for the workshop, several MVHR units and extensive passive solutions for ventilation and shading. We’re oversizing radiators so that when Cockpit make the switch to heat pumps for the main building heating, these refurbished areas are future proofed.
Passive design principles
Passive design principles have informed the orientation, form and massing of a new makers’ studio block that we are also building onsite - unlocking under-utilised space in the backyard.
The intention is to achieve exemplary low-energy standards in areas we’re working on – for example with a new façade for the ground floor areas of the existing building, and the construction of a new wood workshop.
In collaboration with Max Fordham LLP, we are introducing air source heat pumps for the workshop, several MVHR units and extensive passive solutions for ventilation and shading. We’re oversizing radiators so that when Cockpit make the switch to heat pumps for the main building heating, these refurbished areas are future proofed.
Passive design principles
Passive design principles have informed the orientation, form and massing of a new makers’ studio block that we are also building onsite - unlocking under-utilised space in the backyard.
The intention is to achieve exemplary low-energy standards in areas we’re working on – for example with a new façade for the ground floor areas of the existing building, and the construction of a new wood workshop.
In collaboration with Max Fordham LLP, we are introducing air source heat pumps for the workshop, several MVHR units and extensive passive solutions for ventilation and shading. We’re oversizing radiators so that when Cockpit make the switch to heat pumps for the main building heating, these refurbished areas are future proofed.
162.
Cockpit Arts Deptford
Year:
2019-23
Location: Lewisham, London
, UK
Category:
Public
, Workspace
, Arts
Project: 2019-22; Construction: 2023
Team: Oliver Cooke, Francis Fawcett; Eden Day, Andy Gibbs (project architect), Emilia Johnson
Client: Cockpit
MEP design: Max Fordham LLP
Structural design: Momentum
Cost consultant: G&T
Photos: Isabelle Young, Peter Landers, Cooke Fawcett
Read more about how we work on arts projects.
