Barking Learning Centre, London
- Client: London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
- Principal designer: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
- Principal engineer: Buro Happold
- Principal contractor: Ardmore Construction
- Contract value: £35 million
About the project
This vibrant mixed-use development demonstrates how a sustainable approach, close teamworking and high design standards can drive regeneration. A library is at the heart of the Centre. Comprising 246 one- and two-bedroom flats in two new six-storey blocks sitting above the extended library, the Centre creates new public amenities such as a café and art gallery.
The ground floor of the library is laid out as a retail environment with informal reading areas among circular shelving and brightly coloured rubber furniture; the first floor houses the reference library. This accessible and inviting approach to a library is clearly working: the number of users has risen by around 50 per cent.
One major challenge was retaining the original 1970s library building. A new concrete frame and transfer structure was built over the library to support the new housing, but the existing concrete structure was also retained to minimise wastage and labour. Sustainability has been aimed at through planning, design and efficient use of materials. Features include brown and green roofs, radiant heating panels in the library ceiling, water-saving taps and solar thermal hot water heating to all the top floor flats. The architects brought in cutting-edge design expertise, and the whole scheme was delivered within budget four months’ early. It would be fair to say the scheme has revitalised the centre of Barking.
Judges' comment
"Modern public space at its best. This mixed-use development shows that we can be optimistic about the possibilities for the Thames Gateway."