SILO D NEWHAM'S NEW BEACON OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY & CREATIVITY
A PLACE TO...
MEET
MAKE
DO
Once an industrial prowess, Silo D will be transformed into a new, state-of-the-art community centre and creative facility to rehome the nearby Britannia Village Hall, which is due to be redeveloped.
Silo D will become a key focal point succinctly integrating the existing and emerging community at the Royal Docks. It will blur the boundaries between new and old, drawing residents in to passively engage with heritage in their day-to-day lives and act as a physical reminder of the area's rich industrial history. The new community hub will provide an accessible space that generates social value and nurtures cohesion by putting human interactions at the centre of the community.
REACTIVATING HISTORY
Adaptively reusing Silo D to connect local people to the roots of the Royal Docks and catalyse regeneration.
Restoring Silo D to its former industrial charm to champion an enhanced sense of identity and value.
Sensitively expanding Silo D and activating the public realm to resituate it as a focal point for the community.
The new-build element 'steps down' from Silo D to protect the uninterrupted visual prominence and distinct form of the heritage asset across the Royal Docks.
Its pointed gable references the traditional saw-tooth roofline of dockland warehouses that once occupied the Royal Docks area. This also emphasises the sharp-edged profile expressed by Silo D's Art Deco design.
Circular windows punctuate the façade of the new-build element in a regular rhythm, following the iconic portholes that populate the elevations of Silo D.
This ensures that the extension seamlessly communicates with the historic fabric of Silo D through providing a degree of continuity. It also emboldens the maritime roots of the building to the wider Royal Docks area.
Facing materials for the elevations of the new-build extension wrapping around Silo D will be carefully selected. Dark, textured materials that contrast with the bright, smooth appearance of Silo D will ensure that the new-build element does not detract from the heritage asset's visual distinctiveness in the townscape of the Royal Docks, while marking it out as a contemporary addition.
Materials will be sourced from sustainable manufacturers to contribute to the long-term environmental credentials of the proposed development. The use of reclaimed bricks from on-site or nearby demolition work and construction waste that may otherwise end up in landfill will be recycled to offer a beautiful, hard-wearing and robust finish to the structure. Traditional brick and timber façade treatments also reference and celebrate the former industrial setting of the Royal Docks.
Existing reinforced concrete
Dark multi brick
Charred hit & miss timber cladding
DESIGN MODELLING
The SketchUp model below indicates the potential form and massing of Silo D's new-build extension in relation to its immediate surroundings within the site.
DESIGN INFLUENCE
A selection of developments from across the UK and internationally have been hand-picked below, providing an indication of the architectural style and design of the new-build element of Silo D. These examples can be expanded on click to find out more about how they have influenced the proposals for Silo D.
HERITAGE AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
Our aspiration is to treat the façades of the Silo D community centre with stunning hand painted tiles, providing an opportunity for significant community involvement.
These will be co-created hand in hand with the local community to beautifully reactivate the maritime history of the Royal Docks and celebrate its industrial roots.
Capturing a wide cross-section of the diverse local community is absolutely key to the delivery of this public art intervention, encompassing the following target stakeholders:
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Local residents
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Local community groups, e.g. West Silvertown Foundation
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Local schools
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Former workers at Millennium Mills, Silo D and the wider Royal Docks
A comprehensive engagement programme, including workshops, will invite these groups to contribute with their stories, memories and experiences of Millennium Mills, Silo D and the wider docklands.
Stitching together the history and the future of the area through a co-led narrative can enhance the heritage value of Silo D. The involvement of local people in the process serves as an opportunity to improve cohesion, strengthen place identity and provide a sense of stewardship in a bid to maximise the benefits of regeneration to both the existing and emerging community.
Photos: José den Hartog