Location:

London, UK

Status:

Full planning permission granted

Scale:

0.26 ha

Constraints:

Flood zones 2 & 3

Construction Value:

£1.2m

Creekside

Whilst Deptford undergoes a massive transformation and gentrification, proposals at Creekside seek to preserve a sense of the area’s industrial legacy by repurposing and extending an existing building to create a destination building of merit.

The Creekside Discovery Centre run by Creekside Education Trust (CET) has outgrown its building and its capacity for visitors. The site is located in flood zones 2 and 3 and therefore increasing the buildings footprint was not allowed by the Environment Agency. The existing building was sound but the green roof has seen better days.

The repurposed building seeks to greatly enhance its setting with a simple portal frame that spans over the existing building to support new facilities. The exposed structure references the site’s former use as a gas holder and the neighbouring structure of Deptford Creek Lifting Bridge.

​

...full text

Whilst Deptford undergoes a massive transformation and gentrification, proposals at Creekside seek to preserve a sense of the area’s industrial legacy by repurposing and extending an existing building to create a destination building of merit.

The Creekside Discovery Centre run by Creekside Education Trust (CET) has outgrown its building and its capacity for visitors. The site is located in flood zones 2 and 3 and therefore increasing the buildings footprint was not allowed by the Environment Agency. The existing building was sound but the green roof has seen better days.

The repurposed building seeks to greatly enhance its setting with a simple portal frame that spans over the existing building to support new facilities. The exposed structure references the site’s former use as a gas holder and the neighbouring structure of Deptford Creek Lifting Bridge.

Community consultation was central to Baca Architects’ novel approach to the expansion of the existing Centre. The building proposal is both sustainable and pragmatic and will provide much needed new facilities in a playful and characterful design. The existing building will be retained, and a portal frame lifts new classrooms up above the existing roof creating a stimulating and exciting teaching experience and a unique vantage point for visitors to view the wildlife habitats of the creek.

The result is intelligent and cost effective and increases the capacity of the site whilst preserving its ecological assets.