Holland Harvey Architects transforms disused London grocery store into homeless shelter

Heat and tactile supplies assist create a home really feel inside this north London homeless shelter, which Holland Harvey Architects has created inside a former grocery store.

Shelter from the Storm is positioned in Islington, north London and gives 42 beds for the homeless, in addition to freshly cooked meals and rehabilitative help.

The shelter – which takes over a disused grocery store – has been designed by Holland Harvey Architects with interiors that evoke “sensitivity, domesticity and heat”.

“The homeless sector was unchartered territory for us, so we labored intently with the charity to know the sensitivities of the visitors and intricacies of the charity’s operational necessities,” the observe advised Dezeen.

“We have been shocked to be taught that at anyone time, as much as a 3rd of the visitors are in full-time employment – the visitors are bizarre individuals who wish to really feel welcome and secure,” it continued.

“Each design choice aimed to make the shelter welcoming and acquainted while permitting for privateness and a way of possession wherever potential.”

Terracotta-coloured tiles have been used to clad a handful of partitions and chunky prep counters within the shelter’s kitchen and eating room, providing a heat distinction to the constructing’s uncovered concrete shell.

Wood chairs encompass every of the tables, that are dressed with kitsch patterned tablecloths. Spherical pendant lamps and potted crops have additionally been dotted round as decor.

Morris + Firm designs housing for London’s homeless in outdated tube station

Timber floorboards run all through the room: “It was necessary that the shelter did not really feel institutional so we rigorously chosen supplies that have been home but sturdy,” added the observe.

Through the day this room doubles-up as a restaurant for native residents, in a bid to encourage open channels of dialogue between most of the people and society’s susceptible.

To additional improve “the thought of transparency”, the observe has inserted a collection of expansive home windows within the constructing’s entrance facade that enables inhabitants to look out and passersby on the road to glimpse into the cafe space.

Sea-green paint has then been utilized all through the bedrooms and bogs, whereas the shelter’s entrance has been fitted with a “homely purple” door to offer the constructing a extra typical residential look.

Right here there’s additionally a small facet room the place guests can escape to ought to they want a second of restoration earlier than getting into the shelter correct.

Harvey Holland Architects says that the architectural group are within the prime place to hunt out options to London’s present homelessness disaster.

“Architects are uncovered to a whole cross-section of society and are subsequently uniquely positioned to determine and facilitate alternatives for social good,” the observe defined.

“We’re skilled to note issues which are usually unseen, recommend revolutionary concepts for enchancment and are sometimes finest positioned to encourage partnerships with those that have the assets to make a significant distinction for society’s most susceptible.”

At the beginning of this 12 months, Morris + Firm proposed changing a tube station right into a hostel, the place the homeless may reside alongside teams of younger professionals who’re attempting to get their bearings on metropolis life.

Reed Watts additionally developed modular wood pods that present momentary lodging to individuals who would in any other case must sleep on the streets.

Images is by Nicholas Worley.