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Resources Inspirationals "We could just call it myplace"
Resources Inspirationals "We could just call it myplace"
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The map shows where to find the myplace projects approved so far.There are 21 Fast-track and 41 Standard Track myplace projects throughout England. You can find out a bit more about projects by clicking on the map.
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"We could just call it myplace" |
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myplace Havering"It's like that music venue in Australia," says Charlotte, as she pours over a book on architecture, with page after page of beautifully photographed buildings. It turns out that she's referring to the Sydney Opera House.
"It looks like a caterpillar," says Ben, making swooping movements through the air with his hands. "We're designing something we'd like to go to ourselves."
"Will we still be able to bring different youth groups?" asks Christine, a youth worker. "In Harold Hill, that's what we've done since the sixties."
We're in London, so close to Tower Bridge you could touch it, at the offices of Jacobs, the architects for Myplace Havering. Charlotte, Ben and Becca, together with youth workers Christine and Stuart, are meeting with project architect Shelley Smith, to talk about the design of the pods in the Myplace to be built in Harold Hill, Essex.
"We meet once a month and Shelley shows us the work she's done and we tell her if we like it," explains Ben.
Shelley admits that when she first started working with the team, she found it "quite intimidating". However, as the meeting develops, it transpires that she's a natural when it comes to nurturing creativity in young people.
"Working like this has informed the design a great deal," she says. "We would have had a much more functional building if we'd done it the usual way. The young people have brought a lot of fun to it." The rooms have been created around the chosen activities, she explains. "Which is how we've got the spaces for arts and games and drama."
When the young people ask about progress, Shelley brings them up to date. "We're testing the ground. We're digging bore holes to see whether it's clay. And we've also done an unexploded objects test."
Clearly not intending to blind us with science, Shelley goes on to talk about how you go about creating a zero carbon building. So far, she says, "there's a cost if we want to go from where we are to the next level." At the moment, the BREEAM rating for Myplace Havering is likely to get an excellent," she says. For those of you who are not up to speed, BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings.
"We could have different colours to show that different activities go on inside," suggests Becca.
"How about something more like Doctor Who?" asks Charlotte.
"We could do something completely random and fun," says Shelley, who is clearly enjoying her job and is now feeling far from intimidated.
As with so many Myplace projects, bus routes are key.
"You can get the 174," explains Charlotte. "The one that goes along Dagenham Park Drive."
Buses lead us on to Oyster cards - with a difference.
"Could we have a mfyplace card so that you get information about what's going on, like an Oyster card?" asks Charlotte. She goes on to suggest that you could swipe it when you arrive, "so that you know who is in the building. "It's a big thing to feel secure," she adds.
"You could pay £5 for the card and then it's like your membership card for when you want to use the facilities," says Ben.
"But is it going to be very expensive to put something like this in?" wonders Charlotte.
The discussion moves on to the name of the building. At the moment, it seems to be Myplace, according to Ben, who then suggests that they could have a competition, to get people to put forward names and then ask people to vote for their favourite.
Shelley tries to keep the meeting on track and asks everyone to focus on the design of the pods. We all hunker down, coloured pens in hand, to get on with some work.
The Albemarle Youth House was the first purpose built youth club to arrive in Harold Hill, and it was built in 1963, as part of the wave of change which followed the Albemarle Report on youth services, named after Lady Diana Albemarle.
One of the recommendations that came out of the report was that more money should be provided for new premises to be built and that full-time youth clubs should be introduced. Before the early sixties and the Albemarle Report, youth work was largely about PE and gym, with youth workers often ex-teachers or ex-squadron leaders.
John Brady, a youth worker who came to Harold Hill from South Shields in 1966 to take up a job as a full-time youth worker, remembers that the Albemarle was located in what was known as a 'resettlement area' and that it was created not just for the young people in Harold Hill, but for the whole of Havering.
As a result of the Albemarle Report, £28 million was spent on 3000 building projects between 1960 and 1968.
In contrast to youth clubs in the fifties and sixties, myplace Havering will have no sports facilities - there is a leisure centre next door - but instead will have a cafe, games area, art room, performance area, creche and a bike workshop. It will also be home to the local radio station Link FM and Connexions, now called Prospects.
In the myplacef meeting at the Albemarle, there is more talk about sustainability.
"What's the lighting situation like?" asks Harvey, directing his question at Shelley.
"We've got a lot of daylight in it," she says. "And we're looking at how to make the building the most environmentally friendly in the most cost-effective way." Talking about solar panels and renewable energy, Shelley adds, "it's known as eco bling."
Looking at the plans, and pointing out a particular area, Trevin has a question. "Can I say something? It says quiet space, but it also says creche."
A quiet creche is going to be a challenge, everyone admits.
Harvey makes the suggestion that they can organise silent raves, to keep the local residents happy, and Eoin volunteers to set up a Facebook page. When it comes to music, the general consensus is that there should be a big piano and lots of guitars.
Harold Hill's youth service has a rich musical heritage: Mike Oldfield played at the Albemarle in the sixties and a lot of new bands started life there. Ian Dury mentioned Harold Hill in his song 'This is What We Find' in 1978.
Everyone is keen to put their mark on their building. Hand prints in concrete get the thumbs up, as does interviewing artists to pick one to lead a workshop where they will create big artwork for the interior walls and perhaps the outside of the building. It sounds like good material for a future episode of School of Saatchi.
Another meeting at Shelley's offices is planned, to include visits to art galleries and the Design Museum for inspiration.
But there still remains the question of the name. Should they go ahead with the competition? The submissions? The voting?
"I've always called it the myplace project," says Ben, "I suppose we could just call it myplace."
Location: Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, Essex
Project value: £4.7 million
Doors open: Late 2011
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Read our Feature Article on Going Green in HaveringProject Page
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