Land Re-acquisition, Community Gardens & Kitchen for Alternative Housing in London (2020)

Alternative Terms:

Land Re-acquisition, Community Gardens & Kitchen at King’s Cross Triangle Site

by Ee Von Cheah

Diploma 17 The Publicness of Architecture: Radical Democracy in Urban Space AA School of Architecture

Tutors: Gabu Heindl, Eleanor Dodman, Liza Fior

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King’s Cross Developer

land ownership

+ Local Authorities

A report done by KPMG and Shelter, UK’s national charity for homelessness in 2015 shows that the problem with the dysfunctional British housing market today is due to privatisation of land and the problem can only be solved by public reacquisition of land. In other words, the local authorities should acquire land back for housing. The idea of local authorities retaining the freehold ownership of land for housing regardless of private or public housing development is not unprecedented. It just takes political will. Singapore is the best example for this strategy.

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Source: http://calthorpecommunitygarden.org.uk/

Inspired by Calthorpe Community Garden just to the south of King’s Cross and instead of having another commercial pseudo-public ground floor like any other neoliberal development, the project aims to include participation back in the public sphere through community gardens by actively involving the community from King’s Cross and Caledonian ward. The communities at these wards can volunteer and buy affordable fresh produce from the housing scheme’s community gardens which are the green areas. The gardens will still mainly be tended by the residents. The community garden will also support a community kitchen run by the residents living on the housing scheme.

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GP Surgery

mental therapy

skill upgrade

Beyond Food, a social enterprise which trains homeless people culinary skills will be in charge of training the formerly homeless residents. Many reports have also shown that there is very little to zero follow up support for homeless people in the UK. Although the restaurant will provide technical skill upgrades for the formerly homeless residents, it is important to note that there are many other complicated soft skill issues such as relationship break downs, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse that accompanies them. Therefore, to provide the follow-up support missing in the current system, the housing scheme will provide a General Practice Surgery that mainly helps the residents but not restricting to the general public.

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Ground Floor Plan

On the ground floor, the building is set back 20metres to provide a wide outdoor community garden accessible right from the pavement. The community garden managed by the residents and volunteers will supply fresh produce to the community kitchen which seeks to add onto the choices of places to eat for the new group of affluent employees such as the upcoming Google and Facebook headquarters. Due to the location of the site, the housing scheme which faces a 16 storey tall housing block might not be able to have full sunlight throughout the day. So plants that thrive well in shade were chosen.

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Short Section

This section shows the relationship between the community kitchen, gardens and vegetable stall at ground floor and the communal terrace on the first floor. Accessibility for disabled people and prams are taken into account. The community kitchen and gardens does not only serve the residents but also provide sustainable food security for families with low income in the neighbourhood as the only grocery store in neoliberal King’s Cross is the upmarket Waitrose.

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Community Kitchen Perspective

Long Section

The scheme proposes split level housing units with stepped balconies inspired by Alexandra Road Estate and lush gardens with a glasshouse on the communal terrace of the first floor.

Every two blocks of split level housing units share an outdoor staircase going up to their flats, replicating the impression of having your own outdoor entrance access like Victorian terrace houses. All housing units are dual aspect, having windows on both ends of the houses. The housing units on the left face north-south, while the housing units on the right face east-west, ensuring all housing units receive ample sunlight throughout the day.

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First Floor Communal Terrace Perspective

40% bigger than current standards

Saxon Court’s Biggest Dwelling

(3 bedroom unit 108sqm)

Proposed Biggest Dwelling

(4 bedroom unit 140sqm)

Responding for the need of bigger dwellings that includes furniture and modern appliances, my proposal will provide 40% more than the current housing standards. For direct comparison, Saxon Court which happens to be just opposite my site has the worst layout in King’s Cross. Their biggest dwelling is a three-bedroom intended for four people measuring up to 108sqm. Meanwhile, my biggest proposal is a four-bedroom unit intended for four people measuring up to 140sqm.

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