Southdene is about more than architecture, it’s a relationship. We were initially approached by the charity with a request to help them design an extension to an existing community centre. From that point, we have worked with them to secure funding and manage virtually every aspect of its practical delivery.
Southdene Community Centre is a tangible expression of what group/d believes and delivers. Working with the charity, we set out to design a space that could welcome and accommodate a diverse range of uses and events – a hub for important community services and programmes, as well as a place for informal gatherings and celebrations.
At a time when many communities are losing social spaces and assets, we saw Southdene as a powerful affirmation of the value of a shared place and identity. Southdene is a resilient community that has held together through challenging economic times. The design is bold, accessible and versatile – a testament to the community’s resilience and resourcefulness and a confident symbol of hope for the future. For us, the opening of the new centre will not be the completion of the project, it will be the moment when it begins to live.
Southdene Community Centre is a testament to the community’s resilience and resourcefulness and a confident symbol of hope for the future
John Cunningham, Director & Architect
