The Family Welcome Centre is a landmark early-phase project within the wider regeneration of the Harold Hill Estate. It consists of 74 dwellings providing emergency accommodation for families, alongside two floors of flexible community space.

Ground floor spaces focus on community, support and family life. There’s a secure reception area and spaces for families to meet visitors, share a meal, do their laundry, finish homework, play with friends, host kids’ parties – all to provide some respite and community experience.

Upstairs, a range of dwelling types including wheelchair-accessible and adaptable family units are designed around generous naturally lit circulation spaces with clear signposting. Full-height glazing, open-plan kitchen and living spaces, underfloor heating, enhanced acoustic performance and high levels of natural ventilation all contribute to a domestic and comfortable environment that sets a new standard for temporary housing, until now sorely neglected.

We’ve taken learning from our recent dementia-friendly design research to create a building full of colour zoning, visual landmarks, accessible graphics and enhanced colour contrast to help residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to intuitively find their way around.

Safe landscaped play areas for different age groups, communal outdoor spaces and carefully overlooked courtyard gardens that promote safety through passive surveillance, encourage everyone to spend time outdoors and socialise.

The building’s U-shaped footprint provides a continuation of the existing terraced street scape. External materials were chosen for their warmth and tactility, and detailed to provide depth and playfulness.