Project Collaborator: SAA

Project Partners: Peabody

Competition Brief: Peabody, London’s oldest and largest housing association, is leading the visionary regeneration of Thamesmead, and we are putting culture at the heart of our plans. As part of our developing cultural programme we are inviting ambitious and innovative proposals to respond to this unique setting on the border of London, and to create something extraordinary.

The brief is open. Proposals can be for any location in Thamesmead, providing logistics can be met. The project can last for any period of time, and it is encouraged for the work to last long enough for wide ranging audiences/participants to engage with it. The proposal should be specific to Thamesmead, and inspired by it. It should reflect the change that is coming, and speak to the future residents that will make Thamesmead their home, while remaining relevant to its existing communities.

Our Services: Community consultation, Brief development, Concept Design.

The Pyramid Club

Primary Design Driver

Thamesmead has a rich and diverse history that provides many opportunities for inspiration and interpretation when it comes to creating a new public art installation. During our research, one building repeatedly stood out, for both its architectural notoriety and the impact it had on the community over its 37 year lifespan.

The Pyramid Club (above) was constructed in Tavy Bridge as a community meeting place for the residents of the New Town, named after its iconic pyramid shaped roof. It was the first licensed club in Thamesmead and regular events such as fancy dress parties and disco nights were organised by the Thamesmead Community Trust. The centre quickly became the heart of the Southmere Lake neighbourhood, where the first phase of the development began.

With the building now demolished, we decided the public art installation would be the perfect opportunity to revive the essence of the original pyramid club. We released a preliminary survey to residents of Thamesmead, asking to hear about their memories and stories from The Pyramid Club. With nearly 100 responses in just 24 hours, we were able to gain a well rounded view of how the venue was used and loved!

Through a contemporary reinterpretation, our proposal integrates the memories and stories from the past with unique and innovative design. The structure will maintain its presence by being sited within the vicinity of Southmere Lake, as a homage to its original location.

Daytime

During the daytime, the club was used as a place for families and children. With no other daycare facilities in the area at the time, a children’s group was organised each morning, providing opportunities for families to congregate and play.

For this half of the pavilion, the roofscape takes a more simple or subtle form, with two perforated sides to bring in dappled sunlight.The groundscape takes its inspiration from the brutalist playgrounds of the era, providing a space for people to gather and sit as well as a place for children to play.

The groundscape and play elements will be made from solid recycled rubber, ensuring both durability and safety for children whilst giving the visual aesthetic of a brutalist playground from afar.

Evening

In the evenings, the Pyramid Club was a lively bar, with dancing, fancy dress, darts and community events taking place. Our design is inspired by two of the most iconic symbols of 70s and 80s social clubs: the disco ball and the retro coloured dance floor.

Visitors will enter this space and instantly be immersed in a bright, colourful and fun experience. The ground below will consist of a durable patterned ‘disco’ floor designed and fabricated through a community workshop - taking inspiration from the rich and diverse culture within Thamesmead.

Above head will be an array of angled mirrored panels, reflecting and distorting the visitors perspective and colours below - creating the perfect opportunity for fun and wacky photos that can be shared online around the community and far beyond.

Roofing panels (Daytime Side) -

Zinc or Galvanised Metal

These panels will be fastened to the steel welded frame below. Two sides of the pyramid will have perforations to allow for dappled light to enter, subtly decorating the floor below.

Roofing panels (Evening Side) -

Coloured Acrylic and Mirrored Acrylic

These multicoloured panels will add vibrancy to the surrounding area, drawing in the public. 50% will be semi transparent, filtering light through. The other 50% will have a mirrored coating on the internal face, distorting visitors inside.

Pyramid Frames -

Welded Steel

The pyramid frames will be pre- fabricated in sections by a local Thamesmead fabricator such as Helix 3D or KD Productions. They’ll then be transported and finalised on site.

Square Frames -

Bolted Steel Sections and Cables

The square frames will be standard steel sections cut to size and bolted in place with steel cables acting as cross bracing.

Play Elements -

Recycled Rubber

The groundscape and play elements will be made from solid recycled rubber, ensuring both durability and safety for children. The arrangement of these will be determined through a school workshop, engaging local children.

Disco Floor -

Custom Terrazzo Tiles

We want to display the diverse cultural backgrounds of the residence in Thamesmead, and draw inspiration from traditional patterns and colours to create a contemporary interpretation of a disco floor. We will be running this design process through a community design workshop with the final outcome being installed by the community, under the guidance of our team, as part of the built project.