Harlesden Town Garden Club House - STORPWEBER architects London

H A R L E S D E N
Town Garden Hub
StorpWeber Architects

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THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS BEEN CREATED THROUGH
THE HARD WORK AND GENEROSITY OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS,
CHARITIES AND FUNDERS. THE MAIN AIM FOR THE GARDEN IS TO
PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
THROUGH EXERVISE AND FOOD GROWING, AS WELL AS TO ENSURE
THAT BIODIVERSITY FLOURISHES IN THIS URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
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H A R L E S D E N
TOWN GARDEN CLUB HOUSE
Historic records show that garden nursery buildings dominated the site from
around 1896-1935. These were then demolished to make way for the 32 domestic
garages that were removed in 1980 to allow for an open space and playground.
Unfortunately, in later years the park became a magnet for antisocial behaviour
and no longer was a welcoming space for the community…. until 2013,
when a community consultation on how to improve the area - part funded by
Catalyst housing association - was carried out by local homeless charity Lift.
As a result of this consultation, the Friends of Harlesden Town Garden (FHTG)
was formed – In partnership with Lift (Now Crisis Brent) and Brent Council
- in order to help coordinate the park and to reintroduce a community asset
that offers something for everyone to enjoy: a play area for children, green
lawn and wild flower area, multi-use games area and raised bed allotments.
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Harlesden Town Garden is now well established and it will grow into a green
sanctuary at the heart of the Harlesden. To extend the impact of the Garden
onto the local community it is necessary to establish a base for group
meeting, gardening workshops, community events and other gatherings.
The proposed Harlesden Town Garden Club House will allow members to extend
their work with the community while giving them a base to meet, exchange
ideas, store their tools, clean and exchange their produce from the
allotments. In addition to this the Club House can be used to further connect
with the local community though additional public and private events.
Together with STORP WEBER ARCHITECTS, a local Harlesden architecture
practice, the idea for the clubhouse was developed. The Club House
will be used to connect all the members of the public, promote outdoor
activities, gardening and healthy eating. It can be used for arts events with
local kids, cooking classes, raises awareness of environmental issues through
and promote the ‘greening’ of Harlesden further through the Green Club.
CLUBHOUSE

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O U R A I M
THE HARLESDEN TOWN GAR-
DENS KEY AIM IS TO DELVER
THE PROJECT IN A WAY THAT
WILL LEAD TO NEW AND EX-
CITING VOLUNTEERING AND
E N G A G E M E N T
OPPORTUNITIES.
DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE
WILL BUILD THEIR SKILLS,
CONFIDENCE,WELL-BE-
ING AND EMPLOYABILITY.
Community members who have lacked access
to local green space and have been concerned
about anti-social behaviour will feel safer, more
connected to other local people, and better
able to engage in outdoor activities near
their home and feel there is an outdoor space
that belongs to them - where they can garden,
meet neighbours, exercise, learn about nature,
or just enjoy being in a quiet green space.
By becoming involved in the design, development
and implementation of rejuvenating the park, local
residents will also learn more about the importance
of biodiversity and food growing and the
steps they can take to achieve that in their own
homes. By that we hope to contribute to outcomes
such as the consumption of fresh produce
and in turn create a reduction in food related carbon
emissions and an increase in individuals eating
a healthier diet and improving overall health.
/ Promoting the health
and well-being of all the
residents of Harlesden
/ Involving local people
and supporting them
through training and
guidance
/ Carrying out and promoting
environmental
improvements and conservation
/ Promoting sport, community
recreation and
play facilities
K E Y M I S S I O N

T H E C L U B H O U S E I D E A S
“ LOOKING AT SECTIONS OF CUT VEGETABLES,
THE IDEA FOR THE CLUB HOUSE ECHOES
THE LAYERS SLOWLY BEING PEELED OFF... ”
The main structure is built around a standard 20 foot steel
shipping container. This will form the centre of the structure,
give it an instant enclosure and provide a safe place to carry out
the work. It is sitting on the existing foundations for the old shed.
The skins are formed of standard scaffolding boards mounted
on a structure that can be easily assembled out of scaffolding
poles. In between the container and the skins a
variety of spaces can be used for storage of the tools, a
shed for outdoor furniture and a much needed toilet.
The roof will be planted and used to collect rainwater,
the skin to mount a variety of planters made out of recycled
bottles etc. The decking at the front of the structure
will allow for events to be organised and a temporary
shading through a fabric sail will provide some shading.
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The new Club House will sit within the current Harlesden Town Garden.
It utilises the space occupied by the current shed and will allow the members
of the Harlesden Town Garden to extend their initiatives to promote
gardening, healthy eating and living in the local community. In a sense,
this initiative builds and invites a new culture/community of
well-being, sustainability and health within the local community.
Towards the Health and Well-being of Harlesden...
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H A R L E S D E N
TOWN GARDEN CLUB HOUSE

PITCH
I N
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
TAKE ON A RAISEDBED
ALLOTMENT AT
H A R L E S D E N
TOWN GARDEN?

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ALLOTMENTS
Prices range from £15 to £30 per year
and these prices are halved if you are receiving
any type of benefit or tax credit.
To sign up please download the form
below and email back to Gabriel at
info@harlesdentowngarden.co.uk
or deliver to
Crisis Skylight Brent, Unit 2 Ajax
House, 16a St Thomas’s Road,
Harlesden, NW10 4AJ
Please note that we do currently have
a waiting list and residents closest to
Harlesden Town Garden take priority.
Not sure how to start growing you own
fruit and veg? Then Join our Green Club
every Saturday 10am - 1pm - it’s FREE!

A / series of public events are planned to engage and connect with
the local community in Harlesden and to involve them in the decision
making process for the new Garden Club House. These
are planned as High Street Conversations leading into a public
consultation on the project in the Harlesden Town Garden.
Through the new Harlesden Town Garden Trolley, the ideas
will spread into the community; encouraging the residents
with bottle garden making workshops, which explores
healthy eating through growing your own food on a windowsill.
Small Do-it-Yourself projects, such as the bottle garden are quick
and sustainable methods of improving your general well-being - as
the origins of the nutrients used for the crop’s growth is entirely
under your control. Furthermore, there has been research conducted
at UCL (University College London) which indicates that
exposure to small patches of greenery and flora optimises our
immuno-regulation. This in turn helps our bodies fight against
infections and possibly improve our physical well-being.
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H A R L E S D E N
TOWN GARDEN CLUB HOUSE

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H O W T O
Please have a look at these simple
how to leaflets. These will
help you in a step-by-step guide
how to start growing your own
food and flowers. In no time
Harlesden will be transformed
into a greener environment.

Y O U R
O W N
B O T T L E
G A R D E N
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It is incredibly easy to get into gardening - you don’t even need a garden to
make a start. All you need are some old juice or water bottles, some scissors,
some soil, seeds and patience.
Cut a hole in the side of the plastic bottle, fill some soil in (not too much about
1 1/2 - 2 inches should be enough. Put some seeds in. You can either plant
some flower seeds or vegetables or whatever you want.
Water it (sparsely, not too wet!) and put it on your windowsill. The bottle will
act like a minature greenhouse creating a microclimate that is warm. This
will help the plants to grow. Don’t put it in full sunlight, or they will dry out too
quickly.
Then wait, and wait.... Feel the soil everyday to make sure it is still moist, not
wet! Then provided you have some green fingers the seeds will grow and in a
short while you will have a small plant.
Good luck, and share some photos of your successes on Facebook with us. If
it doesn’t grow, come along to our Green Club to get some tips.

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Y O U R G A R D E N
A garden can be anywhere. On
the windowsill, on top of a wall,
along the outside of your walls....
Any space will do, jsut start growing
your flowers or your vegetables.
In no time your space will
be transfomred into a green
space - giving you endless joy.

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H A R L E S D E N
TOWN GARDEN CLUB HOUSE
P R O P O S A L P L A N

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H A R L E S D E N
TOWN GARDEN CLUB HOUSE
P R O P O S A L S E C T I O N

GREEN CLUB
The Green Club is held every Friday at
the Harlesden Town Garden between
10am and 3pm. Each week Green Club
Members get stuck in with making Harlesden
Town Garden a better place. They
also learn how to grow their own fruit and
vegetables under the expert guidance of
our gardening trainer Hannah.
The sessions are totally free and open
to everyone. No experience is necessary
- all we ask is for is bucket loads
of enthusiasm! Lunch and safety equipment
is also provided although you may
occasionally need warm and waterproof
clothing...
We also plan to run a few trips to places
such as the amazing Kew gardens and
have occasional visiting lecturers to talk
about topics such as Permaculture and
Biodiversity.
Want to join? Email Gabriel at:
info@harlesdentowngarden.co.uk
or alternatively just turn up any Saturday
between March and October.

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T E C H N I C A L D A T A

StorpWeber Architects
L O C A T I O N
Challenge Close, Harlesden, NW10 4AN
O P E N I N G H O U R S
Open Monday to Sunday
9am to 5pm in Winter months
9am to 8pm in Summer months
C O N T A C T
Email: info@harlesdentowngarden.co.uk
L I N K S
facebook.com/harlesdentowngardens/
facebook.com/groups/harlesdentowngardens/
twitter.com/harlesdengarden
instagram.com/harlesdentowngarden/
www.harlesdentowngarden.co.uk
S P O N S O R S
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