Abbey Area Community Hub

Our design uses a modern but warm approach, with timber cladding on the outside to give the building a natural, softer look. The form of the building is light and open, like a pavilion, ensuring that it sits comfortably within the surrounding parkland. Its low, horizontal shape and generous openings help it blend into the landscape.

During design development, we saw that bringing the two separate services together would strengthen community connections by allowing them to operate as a single, integrated health and wellbeing service, while still keeping the option to easily combine the spaces in the future with minimal changes.

There is a homely and domestic feel to the centre, promoting health and wellbeing through activities for learning and development, while considering the need for privacy in some spaces.

Large windows are placed to give strong views and access to the outdoors, helping people inside feel connected to the landscape and keeping the layout secure and well-organised.

The community centre, on the ground floor, provides valuable resources and a strong visual connection to the community wellbeing gardens, with access to the crèche.

The hub hosts a range of educational, recreational, cultural and social opportunities to promote and advocate for the needs of the groups based in the centre, while encouraging integration and inclusion between members of the community.

Privacy for the first-floor medical consultation rooms is built into the facade design. Timber elements project outward to reduce direct views from the park, manage sunlight and ensure patients’ comfort and confidentiality.

The edges of the site are defined using a mix of brick garden walls, planting and carefully framed openings. These elements create clear, safe boundaries while still feeling welcoming.