ST WERBURGHS COMMUNITY CENTRE

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

Research Aim: To explore how micro improvements can enhance the day-to-day operations of St Werburgh’s Community Centre and lead to some big ideas.

Who is it for?: St Werburghs is a charity-run business located in the northern area of Bristol.
The charity provides spaces for activities and community-led events.

Introduction: The project aims to provide St. Werburghs Community Centre with a set of proposals ranging from small, low cost interventions that improvement the day-to-day running of the building to feasible larger scale aspirations.

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: We were encouraged by facilitators to gather ‘hands-on’ experience of the centre during its day-to-day running. The project gave us scope to develop this brief to suit the emerging needs of both the staff and end-users.
Micro 01: WC’s improvements to include increased accessibility, inclusivity and functionality, in particular legible Wudu (Wudu is Muslim washing (ablution) facilities for prayer) .
Micro 02: Practical solutions to improve acoustics in building with particular attention to room 8.
Micro 03: Explore the potential for a 1:1 pod to provide private, confidential conversations for users.
Micro 04: Explore the potential for a Sauna!