New Horizon Youth Centre
Somers Town, London
The transformation and extension of an existing day centre for young homeless people
The Grade II listed building sits within a Grade II listed estate and Conservation Area in Somers Town.
'A fantastic sense of civic generosity'
From outside the extension picks up the surrounding Arts and Crafts language of steeply pitched roofs and homely stability, but twists it to something fresh and surprising
A lofty wooden room of softly folded roof planes
An enveloping home for the imagination, play and daydreaming. A fully equipped rehearsal and recording studio and a space available for public hire.
“That’s the atmosphere of this place,
You can be yourself.”
Woman C
Project Details
- New Horizon Youth Centre, Somers Town, London, 2007–2012
- Project: Renovation and extension of a day centre for young homeless people
- Client: New Horizon Youth Centre
- Status: Built
Awards
- Civic Trust Award 2012, Commendation
- RIBA National Award 2010, Winner
Located on the ground floor of a housing block in Somers Town, the New Horizon Youth Centre has been providing support for young homeless and vulnerable people since 1968. The centre was refurbished and extended to support flexibility for the wide range of activities for individuals and large groups; a calm, big house, offering stability and security. The approach to flexibility is to provide a range of spaces with different characters with spatial generosity; so the stairs are over-wide, giving the opportunity to sit and read on them or have a chat half-way up. The kitchen servery could be used as bar to hang out at or a simple stage for a role playing workshop, and the long wooden table for eating together, playing, chatting - simple and relaxed like a nice settled house. Lots of ways to sit, using the building - busy and communal, or private and quiet, or a dreamy escape up in the roof.
From outside the extension picks up the surrounding Arts and Crafts language of steeply pitched roofs and homely stability, but twists it to something fresh and surprising. Inside a lofty wooden room of softly folded roof planes; an exuberant home for the imagination and play. A big window, with a window seat and cushions, looks out to the sky and the trees in the court, and so the room is as much for individual day-dreaming or an intimate chat.
Client Design Team
- David Bonnett Associates
- Davis Langdon LLP
- Gordon Ingram Associates
- Price & Myers
- Robinson Associates
- Tim Lewers
Contractor John O'Neill & Partners
Photography
- David Grandorge
- Ioana Marinescu
Film Lewis Khan
A robust multifunctional counter: servery, teaching station, self service tea-point and place to hang out
A big oak table provides for shared quiet working and shared messy learning
1/2A stair of spatial generosity, giving the opportunity to sit and read on them or have a chat half-way up
Make Yourself at Home. A film by Lewis Khan
Our focus on the qualities of home and establishing an emotionally supportive environment underpinned all levels of design conversation and proposal
A workshop, with eyes closed and hands in the air, to judge the height of a fence
‘Adam Khan is one of the most inspiring, original and committed architects of his generation…He was immensely sensitive to the needs of the 16 to 21yr old vulnerable and homeless people with whom we work. His understanding of how we worked and our ambition for our work produced a completely brilliant building which won an RIBA Award…I strongly encourage anyone tempted to work with him to go ahead and do so.’
'This is an immensely impressive conversion and small new build extension project. This daycentre for a charity working with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in society, provides its users a chance to rebuild shattered lives and enter society. The scheme is exemplary in its understanding of client needs and its engagement with users. Externally the building is beautifully refined and elegant, complementing the existing housing blocks around. Interior spaces are intelligently and intensively multi-used with muted and calm finishes.'
