Camden Road Hostel
Planning permission has been granted for this new-build 39-bedroom hostel which will be constructed using volumetric modular construction. Designed to provide secure and welcoming accommodation for families in need, the layout of the project has been considered from first principles to help nurture a sense of community between residents.
The building sits on the edge of a conservation area fronting Camden Road. A series of trees outside the front of the building act as a screen from the road and this has allowed RCKa to set-back the new scheme and create a sanctuary with a community focus, featuring shared facilities and a garden. The trees provide some camouflage for the building so that it feels like a safer place to live without the design becoming defensive. The block steps down on either side to meet its neighbours and will be clad in a green-glazed tiles on the upper levels and a brick for the plinth which wraps around the base providing a tactile and robust base to the building.
The doorway to the development has been designed to feel like a traditional residential entrance rather than an institutional building, suggesting that this is more than just a temporary place to reside. Inside, a welcoming reception area is accessible by all, leading to a rear community courtyard and landscaped garden providing secure outside play space. This garden will also contain a community room that provides an important space for the residents to enjoy shared activities.
The building will contain studio apartments for multiple family members, two one-bed homes and a single wheelchair accommodation on the ground floor. It is planned that each apartment will be dual-aspect and include a multi-purpose terrace that encourages social interaction between neighbours.
Although this hostel for Camden Borough provides temporary accommodation, RCKa wanted to create the possibility to build a community and imbue a sense of ownership for residents. The shared spaces are theirs to enjoy while they live in the building and it’s important that they should feel safe and at home.