HAWKWOOD: CENTRE FOR FUTURE THINKING

THE TEAM: RIZWAN CHOWDHURY, SEPHA SCHINDLER, EVE ISHERWOOD, ASSALAH ALDHAHER, HARSHADA BHINKAH, DAISY OSBORNE-JONES, RYAN HOBBS.

Research Aim: To investigate how small renovations to Hawkwood can become a stepping stone for major developments.

Who is it for?: Hawkwood - Centre for Future Thinking is a charity-run education provider that provide training courses and venue hire for a wide range of sectors. Located in Stroud, the estate sits on the edge of the Cotswolds AONB, providing a scenic environment for innovative ideas to flourish.

Introduction: The project aims to provide Hawkwood with a set of design proposals ranging from small, low cost interventions that improve the day-to-day running of the building to larger scale aspirational proposals which will help Hawkwood sell their vision to potential future investors.

As a practice, we focused on creating designs that are environmentally and socially sustainable, while also facilitating effective communication and social change. Through purposeful design, focusing on both the micro and macro, we aim to create spaces that uplift, giving individuals and communities spaces that are functional and joyful.

Developed Brief: The initial brief was influenced by the possible macro and micro interventions:
Macro: A master plan examining the charity and Hawkwood estate as a whole. This examined how we could improve the flow of the site and its day-to-day running.
Micro 01: Improving accessibility of the site by proposing changes to the road, parking and reception location.
Micro 02: Creating ensuite bedrooms in place of the current bedrooms which share bathrooms, both in the Stables and the Main House.
Micro 03: Proposing alterations to the existing, listed 80-seater hall.