Mae Architects has completed a community centre in west London that is designed to be as adaptable and recyclable as possible.
The London-based studio had the circular economy in mind when developing the design for Sands End Arts and Community Centre in Fulham.
The community centre is built using timber and a specialist brick made out of construction waste
A circular approach to architecture means keeping both buildings and their materials in use as long as possible, and minimising the waste and pollution of construction and demolition.
With this in mind, Sands End has a flexible interior, which not only allows it to accommodate different functions and activities, but also means the building could easily be adapted in the future if necessary. The recycled bricks were developed with sustainable manufacturer StoneCycling
The structure is built from materials with low embodied energy, including timber and a specialist brick made out of construction waste. Recyclable fixings were also chosen where possible; for instance, bolts were favoured over glue.
"We wanted the construction to provide a flexible shell to be adapted and re-used in the future," explained Michael Dillon, an associate at Mae Architects.
"It was imperative to use materials that seemed best suited to simple construction," he said.
The engineered timber framework is left exposed to create an adaptable interior
The building's frame is made from a mix of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-...