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Hackney City Farm, Educational Resource Centre
Self-build

  • Location

    London

  • Completion Date

    2005

  • Project Cost

    £50,000

  • Award

The Resource Centre was conceived as one component of a much broader initiative called Back 2 Earth. The programme has the aim of providing opportunities for marginal groups in the local area, such as refugees and young off enders, to make connections with the community through hands-on social and educational activities.

 

The brief for the centre itself was to provide a multifunctional space that could accommodate small groups for seminars, lectures and workshops.

 

The fundamental aim was to create a low-impact building. This was achieved through the use of materials sourced locally that were either reclaimed, sustainably grown/produced or a by-product of the Farm’s activities.

 

Equally important was the use of local skills and labour whenever possible. The building has a timber frame of locally coppiced sweet chestnut and reclaimed hardwood built on reused car tyre foundations. The walls are made from straw bales grown in Kent that are rendered in lime and the insulation used throughout is sheep’s wool from the farm.