Abbey Children's Centre

Client

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Construction Costs

£1,200,000

The Abbey Children's Centre was opened on Friday 8th April by the then Minister for Children and local MP Margaret Hodge.

The new community building provides a vibrant landmark on a previously anonymous corner and depressed area of East London. The Abbey Children's Centre encompasses a fifty place full-time nursery alongside crèche and drop-off facilities created to complement the training and community activities that are central to the Government’s Sure Start programme. A community kitchen with training and refreshment facilities will create a central hub and activity in the building that will serve a local community of predominantly first generation immigrants to the UK.

The building is timber frame, clad in larch and features light filled spaces that celebrate the community uses being housed. The dark colour of the elevations is designed to create a backdrop to the colourful activities played inside and outside the building.

Civic Trust Award 2006

32 - 34 clarence mews london e5 8hl T 020 8525 5520 F 020 8525 5530 E contact@cazenove-architects.comW www.cazenove-architects.com