civic have completed the refurbishment and extension of the existing Rainham ROYALS Youth Centre for Havering Council and Design for London.
The most recognisable part of the scheme is the new enterprise space, which occupies the front part of the new floor and cantilevers over the existing entrance. This overhang engages the new extension with the approach routes from the village and from the neighbouring supermarket. A glazed corner gives the young users a vantage point from which to be in control of their environment, while at the same time displaying youth activities centre-stage in a prominent, visible way.
The project was tasked with achieving a lot on a tight budget; not only in creating more usable space and facilities for the youth centre, but also in attempting to give the youth centre an inviting new identity that participates in Rainham’s changing urban profile. The project was funded through contributions from Veolia North Thames Trust, the Mayor’s Outer London Fund and Havering’s Capital Budget.
