Vision for the Dalston Culture House & Gillett Square

HCD projects

web design by Mike Crook

A new cultural and creative arts hub for the East London Gateway!

The Dalston Culture House is the first phase of a larger vision for the Bradbury Street area of Dalston. Other developments include the redevelopment of Stamford Works and the redesign of Gillett Square as a whole.

These plans, based upon HCD's work in this area over the past 20 years, are being implemented by a high quality design team assisted by the GLA Architecture and Urbanism Unit, and are specifically endorsed by the Mayor of London. The result will be a remarkable, high quality intervention into Dalston's built environment which will put this area, quite literally, on the map with the necessary "wow" factor to create a real marker for local regeneration.

Its sectorial foundations are in the embedded networks of local creative institutions, the energies and other favourable conditions in this area, much of which are outlined in the accompanying recent JLRP publication on Dalston. Over the last 25 years the core partner organisations, HCD and the Vortex Jazz Club, have built up numerous close associations with individuals and organisations working in the arts in North East London.

It is no accident that this project carries with it the endorsement of many of the arts and black / ethnic minority organisations in Hackney and Islington, and has the support of many prominent locally involved artists, writers and performers.

Together they are now in position, with a landmark site, high quality design for a spectacular new home and public space, to trigger a quantum leap in the cultural regeneration of this area. The Dalston Culture House will act as growth catalyst for widening spheres, both physical and social, of creative and cultural activity in this area of London.

THE PROCESS FRAMEWORK
The realisation of this vision is an incremental process with the following outline framework:

2003-4: building capacity, redefining the space
	Planning application and consultation for Gillett square
	Outdoor performances and other events in the existing car park area.
	Stimulation and awakening of existing creative economy networks
	New thinking and new ideas about Dalston Long term funding for the area as cultural driver / arts hub for East London
	Dalston Culture House building works completed

Dec. 2004-Jan. 2005: A fluorescent building for the winter solstice
	The Dalston Culture House becomes the new home for the Vortex Jazz Club
	High profile individuals and organisations from the arts and regeneration sectors provide support.
	Plans procedures and partnerships for the sustainable use and local management of the of the new square are agreed.
	Dalston Culture House becomes a visitor attraction and cause for local celebration.

Jan. 2005-June 2005: Settling in
	A programme of cultural and other events in the square for 2005/6
	The full fit-out for the Vortex Jazz Club and Café completed
	Arts groups occupancy of the upper floors of the Dalston Culture House
	Patterns of Production and Consumption established.
	The first construction phase Gillett square completed by June 2005.

July 2005- Dec 2006: Bringing the square to life
	Constitution of sustainable cross sector local management of Gillett Square
	Arts and educational programming, for Dalston Culture House and Gillett Square
	Redevelopment of Stamford Works for mixed use
	Completion of second construction phase for Gillett Square

Sept. 2005- Dec 2006: A neighbourhood in transformation
	Gillett Square area established as focal point — the Dalston Diamond, in physical geography and in information superhighway cyberspace
	Emergence of new middle market retail and creative industries service economy in Dalston.
	Changes in housing demography of Dalston.
	Rising profile of existing cultural institutions, restaurants and leisure facilities.
	Dalston s night clubs and ethnically defined institutions start to attract a wider clientele.
	Increased rate of formalisation and legitimisation of the grey economy.
	Completion of LBH Community Strategy and New Area Planning Frameworks
	Supply and demand for affordable workspace increases in Dalston
	Full Funding for Tube for Dalston committed
	Dalston established as cosmopolitan cultural, arts and public transport hub.
	Dalston identified as the Gateway to East London, as part of the Olympic Bid and Lower Lea Valley Regeneration

2007- New Dalston
	Constitution of the Dalston Development Trust- incorporating key social enterprises and community organisations in Dalston.
	Dalston promoted as sustainable Cultural Industries and Enterprise and Voluntary sector campus area
	Dramatic improvement in local employment, schooling, health and other indices of deprivation
	Reduction in Crime, Pollution and Anti Social behaviour
	Dalston starts to go green.
	Dalston obtains legal and democratic status for devolved governance and subsidiarity
	Dalston is internationalised, glocalised, through fair trade and community to community linkages

ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
As the above scenarios unfold there will be corresponding reconfigurations and developments in local arts and regeneration networks, building the necessary capacity and new structures for sustainable management and delivery of this vision. Whilst locally focussed this will not only involve the local community, but will engage with the wider community of interest as an international, globalised site and also in strategic terms being part of the Thames Gateway, Lower Lea Valley regeneration and the Olympic bid.