Green Street Library

Office S&M is working for Newham Council to deliver a new 600m² community space with wellbeing at its heart.

During the last four years, Office S&M Architects have worked closely with the council and Green Street residents to make sure the new space is inviting and comfortable for people local to Green Street. We have co-designed the space with local people through focus meetings and online surveys, paid interviews and collage workshops, 1:1 drawings and even Minecraft! This will make sure the space is welcoming and fit for purpose for residents of Green Street.

Photo of the building's entrance. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

Exploded axonometric drawing showing proposal's principles. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

The scheme is one of four projects that make up the Queen’s Market Good Growth Programme, which has been jointly funded by the Council, the Mayor of London, LEAP, and the Levelling Up Fund.

The building fronts onto Queens Square, and new windows will connect to the newly renovated square. The the centre of the scheme will become a new space for Green Street Library, while a separate unit will provide workspace for local people. On the first floor, community rooms provide flexible spaces.

Photo collage showing the initial spatial arrangements on the floor. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

Photo showing the current state of the space. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

Visual of interior showing the proposed spatial amendments. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

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"At a time when libraries across England are closing at a rate of nearly twenty a year, the London Borough of Newham is bucking the trend. Since 2016, an estimated 190 council-run libraries have shut their doors across the country. Green Street represents a direct challenge to that trend. Rather than scaling back, Newham has invested in maximising the library’s full potential, making it an essential piece of social infrastructure that serves the range of needs that bring local people through its doors, from health and wellbeing to business support. In developing and delivering the whole project, we have listened to the voices of our residents including those who live in Hamara Ghar – the over 55’s accommodation which sits above the new library – who wanted a visible and accessible space, and Newham’s young people, who asked for comfortable, safe places to spend time, meet, study and access online services. This will be far from the hushed environment most often associated with libraries it will be a new vibrant hub of community activity and engagement."

Forhad Hussain, Mayor of Newham

Visual showing the proposal for the library space. By Office S&M, RIBA Chartered Architectural Practice in London.

The project will be delivered through community wealth building via local contractors, and Office S&M Architects has subcontracted its fee to local surveyors, consultants, and artists, and spent project money on materials, printing, and refreshments with local retailers.

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Community wealth building is at the core of how the practice delivers its work, and the final space will have windows, stairs, and furniture made by local fabricators. This ensures money is put back directly into the pockets of local people, and is a key part of how we approach all projects.

You can download the full report here.