Hillside Hub is the final stage in the Hyde Group's
radical transformation of the once notorious
Stonebridge estate. Residents helped to design the
landmark environmentally friendly building, which
includes a state of the art health centre, convenience
store, community hall, dance studio, small business
facilities, relaxing garden and coffee shop.
The community facilities host a range of activities
including after school clubs, older person's forum, Into Work and IT training, dance and martial arts classes and
celebrations, community parties and other functions.
The scheme incorporates 69 apartments for rent, shared
ownership and sale.
Originally the different functions within the building
were to be housed in different buildings on different
sites. But scheme designer Edward Cullinan
Architects promoted what it called a mixed-up-use
approach to help bring the community together, the
overlapping functions becoming a community glue.
For example, the café is shared by the community
centre and health centre foyers. Each benefits from
the other and there is the potential to bring the
community together through chance meetings.
The architecture is bright, curvaceous and colourful,
with horizontal and vertical timber cladding and brick
punctuated by splashes of vibrant yellow, orange and
reds. Timber is also used inside the building to bring
warmth to areas such as the community hall. The
end result is friendly and inviting, and the residents of
Harlesden agree. The scheme incorporates the first
private homes to go on sale in the area and they have
been well received. |
