Awards RIBA London Award 2022 & RIBA London Small Project Award 2022 

Hackney School of Food by Surman Weston

Client LEAP Federation & Chefs in Schools

Awards RIBA London Award 2022 and RIBA London Small Project Award 2022 (sponsored by Gaggenau)

What would you do with a derelict school keeper’s house on a small plot of land? 
 
The Hackney School of Food, a joint venture project between a charity and a federation of schools met this challenge on just such a site, in one of London’s more economically deprived neighbourhoods. 

Everywhere one looks, the details are considered, thoughtfully designed, and set out in a natural, unselfconscious way. This is designed to support utility rather than design for design’s sake and creates many moments of delight. It has turned the ordinary into the extraordinary with the budget largely spent up to child height.

The architecture allows for a praiseworthy amount of community outreach. The jury couldn’t fault the intention and apparent impact. The architects’ subsequent extended brief to create a toolkit for application on other unused buildings across the borough is evidence of this.

The project is accessible, safe, biodiverse, rich in social nourishment, and worthy of a visit if you are in the area – if for nothing else, some chicken-hugging wellness.

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