IF_DO revitalizes Victorian building into inclusive community hub
London architects transform neglected Hastings structure into multipurpose civic space with bold material choices.
1Adaptive reuse approach
IF_DO preserved the Victorian structure's shell while radically reprogramming its interior functions. The design integrates public commons, affordable workspaces, and youth facilities within the existing footprint. Large operable windows reconnect the building to street life, with deep recesses enabling indoor-outdoor interactions. This approach reduced construction waste while maintaining neighborhood character.
2Spatial connectivity strategy
The architects organized three floors around a new central circulation core containing a lift and skylit staircase. Ground floor common rooms visually and physically connect to the street, while upper floors house flexible workspaces. The design deliberately avoids compartmentalization, creating visual connections between different user groups through shared vertical spaces and material continuities.
3Community-driven material palette
Materials were selected for durability and ease of maintenance: wood-wool wall panels, sisal flooring, and exposed services. Reclaimed timber from the original building was repurposed for attic ceilings. A bold color scheme emerged from workshops with local youth groups, featuring canary-yellow steelwork, pink doorframes, and walls in orange, blue and green as wayfinding elements.
4Social impact design
The project addresses Hastings' need for inclusive spaces where young residents often feel invisible. Window seats at street level facilitate spontaneous interactions between occupants and passersby. Counseling spaces for youth occupy upper floors alongside co-working areas, creating intergenerational connections. The design rejects institutional aesthetics in favor of warm, welcoming interiors.
5Structural interventions
Key modifications included re-rendering external walls in pale lime with textured finishes around windows. The ground floor was reconfigured with openable glazed fronts framed by green concrete. New mezzanine levels inserted within the existing volume maximize usable area without altering the building's envelope or requiring demolition.
6Acoustic and environmental strategies
Wood-wool panels provide sound absorption in high-traffic areas, while exposed ductwork simplifies maintenance. The material selection prioritizes natural, breathable materials like lime render and sisal that regulate humidity. These choices create comfortable environments without complex mechanical systems, reducing long-term operational costs for the community operator.
7Operational flexibility
Spaces were designed for multipurpose use with minimal fixed furnishings. Movable timber window boxes double as seating. The attic's reclaimed wood ceiling conceals new insulation while preserving historical texture. This flexibility allows the nonprofit operator Hastings Commons to adapt spaces as community needs evolve over time.
8Civic architecture benchmark
Eagle House demonstrates how thoughtful adaptive reuse can deliver high social value per construction dollar. By preserving embodied carbon in the existing structure while creating vibrant new community infrastructure, the project offers a replicable model for post-industrial towns. Its success lies in balancing architectural innovation with genuine social responsiveness.