Harrow Town Centre is one of London’s 13 metropolitan town centres. Despite its significance and large catchment, its’ cultural offer is limited. Harrow Council initiated the creation of a temporary creative and cultural quarter in 2022. The projects would forge a culture of enterprise, diversify the town centre and create a new destination that local people could be proud of. The chosen site, a Council-owned car park represents a deliberate attempt to visibly demonstrate alternative, socially and environmentally sustainable uses in Harrow.
The project provides 14 genuinely de-mountable, self-contained workspace units of various sizes and 6 micro exhibition spaces distributed across 3 small buildings that frame a triangular courtyard. The site connects to the high street via an existing archway under Station Road terrace.
Social-, economic and environmental sustainability were key parameters shaping a design process structured around extensive community engagement, rigorous business planning and a modular typology that facilitates re-location at the end of its’ tenure on site.
Creating an accessible and integrated quarter with high amenity value in a location bounded by the rear of the high street terrace in the east, a large surface car park in the west, An A road in the north and existing servicing access in the south were defining factors that shaped the design. We resolved this challenge by distributing work-, exhibition- and event space across three buildings that surround a communal courtyard which is shielded from the car park. Raising the new buildings above ground level creates a distinct separation between car park and community space and it avoids the need for foundations on two of the buildings. A series of ramps and tiered seating turn the yard into an amphitheater theatre for events and performance.
Art Park is an exciting step forward in unlocking creative potential in Harrow. With the offering of flexible spaces in a neighbourhood environment, the delivery of Art Park cultivates a platform where local talent is nurtured, where the community can connect and creativity and experimentation can be showcased to shape future town centre development.
