A design for life

‘If you didn’t know it was a homeless shelter you’d think it was a school,’ says Michael Philpotts, a resident at Spring Gardens homeless shelter.
This new, 40-bed state of the art development in Lewisham, south London, cost £4 million to build. Those behind the new shelter, which opened in mid-June, claim its design can help lift residents out of homelessness.

As I enter, the open spaces and natural light coming from every angle are immediately striking. This doesn’t feel like a hostel for homeless people, more like a modern university building - and that, says one of the architects behind the design, is the point.

‘Older hostels feel very oppressive,’ explains Phil Hamilton, associate director at Peter Barber Architects. ‘Claustrophobic, labyrinth-style corridors make it hard to pull yourself out of a situation. We concentrated on giving residents an open and uplifting environment.

‘It’s like a clear pathway to the final goal of going back into general needs housing.’

The architects learned valuable lessons from building the 53-bed, £3.2 million Endell Street hostel, which opened in London’s Covent Garden in December last year. Like Spring Gardens, it was commissioned by homelessness charity St Mungo’s.

‘With the Endell Street project the main drive was to make it welcoming and less oppressive when people come through the door and that has translated to our ethos for Spring Gardens,’ explains Mr Hamilton.

Progression

The layout of the shelter reflects the rehabilitation process that clients undergo. Ten of the beds are reserved for new clients who will stay in this section while their support needs are assessed. Depending on their needs, residents can be moved into one of two other levels of accommodation. Most will be given more space and independence, while five beds in the buildng’s tower block are reserved for those clients who are most ready to move into general needs housing.

The incentive to progress is visible from the communal kitchen with its far-reaching views across London. It is now home to a regular curry night among residents.

Every room at Spring Gardens has an en suite bathroom and individual garden area, distinguishing features that help residents feel like they aren’t in the average homeless shelter.

Creating the right environment is crucial to allow residents to gain the confidence and skills needed to progress through the hostel. The large open communal spaces were designed with the idea of promoting social contact and creating bonds among hostel users. Even the computer bays are big enough for two people.

‘People love visiting me here because it’s a friendly atmosphere and the building’s nice,’ explains Mr Philpotts. ‘Even my mum visits me. She loves it.’

The main garden also creates a distinctive feel and plays a large role in helping residents.

‘The plan is to have individual allotments so people can grow their own vegetables,’ says hostel manager Vicky Tunnicliff. ‘It’s crucial in developing people’s skills for when they finish their time here and also gives them a lot of confidence. Plus we can use the vegetables in the canteen.’

The staff at Spring Gardens also feel the design of the building helps them to do their job. ‘When I first saw it I thought it was amazing. The fact that it is so light creates a really positive atmosphere,’ says senior project worker Emily Adams.

‘The positive atmosphere makes people easier to work with because they enjoy being here,’ adds Ms Tunnicliff.

Her sentiment is echoed by Mr Philpotts. ‘When I visit my friends in other places I know that I’m walking into a homeless shelter,’ he says. ‘[Spring Gardens] is completely different.’

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