The Moorings, Thamesmead

This project was designed in collaboration with young people at Woolwich Polytechnic & Hawksmoor Youth Club. We have lots of experience in co-designing projects and working in collaboration with local communities in order to bring previously ordinary spaces to life by day and night.

‍

We spoke with residents and underpass users to understand the views on, and experience of, the site and surrounding areas to understand the main concerns. We also undertook a program of co-design with young people from Hawksmoor Youth Club.

‍

The improved underpass is lit by a simple, elegant and robust lighting detail which illuminates the beautiful tile mural created by The Grantchester Pottery. The existing lighting was removed and a central light fixture was installed which compliments  the underpass architecture by day and night. Lighting to the artwork also provides functional light to the underpass accentuating a gateway into the site.

‍

Despite a limited budget and challenging installation and maintenance conditions, the lighting design accentuates the space and artwork while also being very discrete. The straightforward design of the installation also allows for its replication around the estate where lighting is in need of improvement.

‍

We undertook a series of workshops with the young people of Hawksmoor Youth Club and Woolwich Poytechnic which included a night walk around King’s Cross to serve as inspiration. By leading the walk and explaining the lighting design of the different spaces and art installations we feel we expanded their knowledge but also got to know the young people and their families in a way that was unique to the design process.

A publication was assembled which documents the co-design process and will now serve as a benchmark for future community engagement projects in the area.