The workspace is the first part of the phased delivery of Studio Partington’s Andover Estate regeneration masterplan. Fashion-Enter will eventually run further garage conversion workspaces on Durham Road.

The workspace provides individual studios and support facilities surrounding a central communal workspace, exhibition space and entrance. The spatial arrangement is organised around the existing structure while maximising natural daylight and ventilation. The workspace activates the street frontage (Durham Road) with full height glazing, fully accessible main entrance, and signage, replacing the original blank brick and vent carpark façade. The existing three-storeys of flats and maisonettes above the new workspace are maintained, with residents staying at home during construction. The project also provides new secure entrance and lift access to the residential units above.

The design team, led by Studio Partington, worked collaboratively with the end user Fashion-Enter as well as client Islington Council from early feasibility stage to develop a tailored brief. Briefing included a visit to Fashion-Enter’s existing facility. The workspace provided was fully fitted out to Fashion-Enter’s requirements with precisely sized and located services and bespoke furniture so that only sewing machines needed to be installed.

The affordable workspace was co-funded by the council and the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund. Launched in 2017 and delivered in partnership with the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), The Good Growth Fund seeks to make London fairer and more inclusive by strengthening civic networks at local level, encouraging innovation and supporting great design. The FC Designer Workspace offers a step-change in the council’s programme to provide affordable workspaces and effective support to nurture local talent in different sectors of industry, helping communities to create their own wealth, new jobs and more sustainable futures.

One beneficiary is Jannaty, a local sewing group run for the last
32 years by designer-maker Majida Sayam. She will train ten local women to use the factory-grade sewing and garment-making machines at the workspace.