Brentford Towers Residents Association
Project Summary
The Brentford Towers Estate in Hounslow was in need of a large community building in order to serve its range of residents, but in particular, the young people on the estate. The Residents Association was granted funding from the Rainbow Project led by Hounslow Homes and was seeking additional funding in order to finance the build of a new centre on the estate.
Project Background
The Brentford Towers Estate has 528 households and many young residents. There was no community building on the estate large enough to run the services and activities that the residents would like to see, which included space for meetings, training and private hire, homework clubs, a youth club, a mother and toddler club, a senior citizen club, cooking and healthy eating events, amongst others.
Glass-House Involvement
The Glass-House organised a study tour with Catherine Grieg and Liani Van Der Westhuizen of make:good as Glass-House Enablers. This Study Tour took the group to a variety of buildings in East London to demonstrate what is possible in the design of a new community centre and to give the group the opportunity to consider green technologies for their building. The group visited The Hub in Canning Town, The Grassroots Centre in East Ham and The Arts Pavilion in Mile End Park. The tour also involved another community group from Hounslow which gave Brentford Towers Residents Association the chance to share experiences and ideas throughout the day.
Community Involvement
There were people from the Residents Association Committee involved in the project, but the group reached out to the wider community by carrying out surveys in each of the tower blocks and consulting residents at their summer fun day. The group also planned to consult residents on the initial drawings.
Project Support Outcomes
The tour provided some interesting design ideas for the group to integrate into their building and the hosts they met were a great inspiration through their enthusiasm for their completed building projects.
Response from the Group
The hosts we met were a great inspiration through their enthusiasm for their completed building projects.
Latest Update from the Group
Brentford Towers Residents Association are in discussion with an architect (from Hounslow Homes) who is drawing up designs for the new building and they are in the process of securing further funding.
Group Supported
Brentford Towers Residents Association, London, Brentford, Hounslow
Group Location
Project Category
Buildings involving young people
Project Features
- New build
- Community centre
- Young people
How The Glass-House helped
Inspiring Study Tour
Project Support Outcomes
Interesting design ideas for the group to integrate into their building
Project Support Dates
August 2009 - September 2010
Other Glass-House Support
Glass-House Enabler
Make:good
We had an excellent day and the places we visited were amazingly close to what we are trying to create here in Stockwell. I am grateful for your acute interest in what we have to say
Can I once again thank Glass-House for all their help and interest. You are an excellent organisation – and the staff are lovely as well!”
The training experience was extremely enjoyable and very informative. We have come away with a design which we feel we can put into reality and the training was probably the best I have attended.
The course was excellent and I can't thank you and Glass-House enough for the support you've given us, it has made all the difference to the way we look at the project."
