Britain's creative communities face challenges due to the economic crisis and rising rents, putting many at financial risk and impacting their work and mental health. Tourist-oriented creative hubs aren't the answer; creatives require affordable, long-term spaces to collaborate and thrive.

Invited to propose a new creative space in Thurrock, our focus was on prioritizing makers and artists. We envisioned a vibrant, sustainable building to inspire artistic success and drive urban regeneration.

Central to our concept is the courtyard. Dynamic, colourful and hardworking, we want the yard to be a practical place for makers to create everything from sculpture and furniture to large-scale installations. Our ambition is for an ever-changing creative ecosystem where every day brings a new sight, sound and experience.

To enhance the sense of community within the building, we proposed connecting the yard with rooftop spaces and everything in between. The result will be a free-flowing space where people can float up and down levels, encountering different sights, sounds, people and ideas on their way

Sustainability is another vital element of the new space. We want to create a BREEAM Outstanding, low-embodied carbon and low-energy use building. Our approach starts with simple passive components – a highly insulated façade and roof, double glazed windows and rooflights sized to give superb daylight to each studio. The building will include operable windows to allow artists to connect with the external environment and control their own space. However, to meet the stringent energy demands of BREEAM each studio will include a small MVHR unit to provide fresh air in winter with maximum heat recovery.

We are looking to deconstruct a steel frame from one site, fabricate the steelwork and reuse it to construct the new steel frame on this project. We believe the Artist and Maker Building could become a benchmark for this radical approach to sustainable construction - making reuse the norm for the entire industry.