Cornerstones key for mixed use community curation
One of the joys of the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions is the ability to visit and inspect buildings in person. As useful as Google Streetview and even more sophisticated AR may be, most of us agree that nothing beats being able to physically determine for ourselves how buildings and spaces feel and how they relate to their surroundings.
The most effective cornerstones are those which create a point of difference that encourages people to visit time and time again; the perfect blend between an amazing space and amazing use which elevates the other greater than either could achieve on their own.
So it was that while passing the impressive Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone I noticed the simple but powerful cornerstone, an architectural symbol & building use which offers an element of structural cohesion to anchor a street and it struck me how relevant that is as a metaphor for the significant structural change taking place in town and city centres across the UK and beyond, as we move away from mono-occupation and fully embrace true mixed uses.
For P-THREE, places start with people and I’m increasingly impressed by the community spirit that is engendered by redevelopment and regeneration proposals. It’s tempting to think this is a Covid-reflex, but I believe it has actually been with us for some time.
When we couple that local enthusiasm with the vision of dynamic investors and occupiers who are creating and maintaining amazing places, populated by a carefully curated occupier mix, destinations emerge which are at the core of their respective communities.
For me, the term ‘cornerstone’ perfectly encapsulates this process of bringing together consumers, residents, investors and occupiers in a particular location. By cornerstoning communities we provide facilities that are relevant to the people they are designed to attract. This makes them truly sustainable (economically as well as environmentally and socially), which in turn is attractive to investors.
Community cornerstones can come in many guises, shapes and sizes, from new leisure concepts to F-hubs to unique retail concepts. The most effective cornerstones are those which create a point of difference that encourages people to visit time and time again; the perfect blend between an amazing space and amazing use which elevates the other greater than either could achieve on their own. This new generation of property curation is exciting because rather relying on a single critical element, it flourishes through the positive interaction of several complementary factors.
The good news? Cornerstoning is already happening; here are just a few examples:
PANTECHNICON, Motcomb Street, London: a Georgian facade hides behind an eclectic mix of food, drink and retail spaces on multiple levels, including a great rooftop restaurant.
Eccleston Yards, London: A true transformation by investor Grosvenor of a previously uninspiring location into a thriving outdoor ‘secret escape’ and enterprise hub, including the restaurant Wild by Tart which is significantly elevated by the space it sits within (a former car garage).
The Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey, London: Another Grosvenor project, currently in the pipeline, plans to revive the former Peek Freans factory into an interesting retail use with amazing warehouse space in this BTR-centred district.
The key to remember here is how to combine the architecture of a space with an interesting and relevant use for the local (and further afield) communities which will use them.
Article by Justin Taylor, Co-founder of P-THREE
Photo credits: https://www.pantechnicon.com
