Connected Community is working with GM Savers to provide a community centre for Hopton Hopefuls, the residents of Hopton Court. Hopton Hopefuls will be engaged throughout the design process, reflecting the community-focused ethos of the project.

Hopton Court is a social housing block. The design will be sympathetic to the aging population, ensuring it is fully accessible to those with age-related mobility issues.

Community cohesion is key to the project, with the community centre acting as a driver for social interaction. The space will be for residents to meet, host social activities and attend to care needs; the space will be key to improving the resident’s physical and mental health. Overall, the project aims to improve the general social wellbeing of the residents.

Connected Community will provide an insight into the world of an architecture practice. Dealing with RIBA stages 1 and 2, we will be looking at how to translate the consultation process into architectural solutions. Dealing with the early stages of design, we will be working closely with our collaborator and client, developing client meeting and presentation skills. The project will be running similar to an architectural competition, providing further experience of in-practice scenarios.

As we are focussing on the early design stages the key skills which will be developed are sketching, digital modelling (Sketchup), Photoshop and Indesign. These skills will be used to produce impactful images for presentations to the client and a design feasibility booklet.

DAY 2

The second day of the project kicked off with a talk from our collaborator Sophie, who provided the team with additional information and the positive impact our project will have on the residents of Hopton Court! Later in the morning, Craig Stott from Project Office at Leeds Beckett University gave a talk on his work at ‘New Wortley Community Centre’ and how this was approached by being heavily influenced by student-led design! Very similar to our project at Hopton Court! This provided a real insight into working with communities and working on low budgets.

The afternoon consisted of an introduction to the site (including a site video which can be seen via the link below!) and analysing the opportunities and constraints through various mind maps and diagrams; all were very good! We finished the day by presenting all the great work we have done and learnt throughout the day.

See our site video here!
https://youtu.be/F_HwZ7LFmxE

We are looking forward to Day 3!