Our proposal is for a radical reconstruction of Poplar Baths; a mixed development-involving
commercial and community use - giving the Baths back to the community.
Blackwall ward, in East London has been deemed by the Government to have the highest
deprivation index in the United Kingdom. Poverty is high, jobs are few and the children lack
the basic amenities of life - there is no swimming pool, bank; library, cinema, supermarket
or secondary school. Very few of the facilities people usually expect in Britain.
Where better
to build the best, most cutting edge, comprehensive community and leisure centre in the
Land?
Our Plan
Our first task is to put the building to immediate use.
One idea is to create an environment
for small start up businesses - an enterprise incubator.
By inserting prefabricated units or
'pods' into the interior space small businesses can start operating straight away, without
any major structural alteration of the building.
The type of small business able to take advantage of this situation will include artists and
crafts people, and small IT companies specialising in Networking and Internet sites.
They
are able to move and set up almost instantly and usually do not have the same overheads
as other commercial concerns.
These enterprises will contribute to the concept of
community re-generation and we expect some of them to remain when the main
development takes place - they can both live and work in the centre.
Our Vision
We would like to see Poplar Baths developed in one of three ways:
Idea 1; is to keep the existing structure and completely refurbish it.
Converting the building for use as offices for community groups, youth provision and leisure
with some living accommodation. and business units.
The north side, the front, could be converted in the following way; Starting at the Eastem
corner with refurbished offices for SPLASH on three floors. Next to this, moving west in an
anti clockwise manner, we would have NIP(Neighbours in Poplar) offices and care
provision. The existing main entrance to the Baths will remain with, perhaps, an art project
in the rooms above (these have in the past been used as a studio by an artist who painted
the ceiling mural in the Baths foyer). On the extreme West corner, by the fire station, we
would have a youth club with the Youth Manager's offices above. Integrated with this will be
a New Start initiative involving access to new technology and job creation. Moving behind
(South) would be a sports hall - multi use and accessible both by the youth club and for
community use. To the east of this and behind the main facade will a swimming pool. The
rest of the building; i.e. along the DLR railway line and to the rear could be used for light
industrial units and 'sunrise' businesses.
Idea 2 is to keep the front facade and rebuild the rear - the swimming bath
section. The front fagade can be developed as described above while the rear will be a
completely new construction. Allowing for the building of dwellings. These could be high
density and ideal for single people. The concept of high-density housing has been adopted
in many large cities including Tokyo and Paris. Our idea will be to make compact but
attractive dwellings; which while occupying little space will have an expansive outlook.
Clever use of balconies and orientation will reduce the feeling of enclosure. Shared spaces
and amenities in addition to the leisure provision will create a feeling of community. Work
units will complete the equation allowing people to live and work in the same building.
Idea 3 is to demolish the whole structure and start again. This is the most
flexible option and will allow for offices, housing amenities and/or work units. This may be
more attractive to a developer. Starting again we can adopt a wholly more innovative
approach and use post modernist ideals linked to the latest in technology. This will allow us
to build almost anything. What about a living centre based on the ideals of Le - Corbusier
and with the visual appearance of the 'Tower of Babel' in the Painting by the artist Pieter
Bruegel the Elder?
Poplar Baths - a vibrant centre
We would like to see the following within our new complex
Leisure Amenities.
Poplar Baths used to be a leisure facility and remains in a prime location to be one again.
Our suggestion is to retain a smaller swimming bath and to add a sports hall and various
activity rooms including a café and an arts studio for art lessons. On consultation with local
young people the suggestion of a beach like environment built onto the pool was
suggested. The integrated provision of leisure facilities would make living in the dwelling
complex desirable and outward looking.
Housing
As mentioned before the property lends itself to development into housing. In Inner London
and in particular Tower Hamlets there is a shortage of housing for single people. Young
people starting out in professions Iike artists, nurses, young entrepreneurs and crafts,
people have difficulty finding accommodation. When they do find it, it is rarely satisfactory.
The reclaimed Poplar Baths can change all that with desirable and affordable living units for
single people. The flats would be built in an innovative way either following the pattern of a
cone like tower or in a semi circle or amphitheatre type arrangement not unlike some small
villages in southern Spain.
Small Businesses - Artists Studios
We expect the tenants of this scheme to consist of makers, i.e. makers of modern
technology (computers and computer related services) and creative industries (art and
craft). The advantage of these enterprises would be to enrich the area with all that is
modern and creative. Within the E14 area and the Isle of Dogs there is much potential for
Art and Cultural development while in the Voluntary Sector there is increasing use of
computer technology.
Art
In Blackwall and the Isle of Dogs there are two main factors- ) An inordinate number of
artists live here and
- ) There is great public demand for Art and participation in the arts.
However the promise is only partially fulfilled. By bringing in artists to the community setting
and organising their role we can fulfil their expectations and satisfy the public demand for
art activities. A thought is to form an Academy of Art Activators, a centre of excellence,
which could branch out to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Youth Club/ Restart provision
We hope to extend the remit of the traditional youth club and include constructive
development of the individual. To help young people determine their future and to access
jobs. Working on the principals of Restart and with Connexions and the Youth Support
Service we will develop a state of the art youth provision.
NIP/Health provision
Alongside the new NIP (Neighbours in Poplar) office will be a new facility aimed mainly
towards the elderly (an expanding population), but also towards families and young people.
This provision would deal with problems, which the NHS may consider non-priority, but to
us are very important.
Swimming Bath
A swimming facility to be shared by all members of the community. Here there will be set
timetables for all ages. The facility would provide lessons for mother and baby, kids only
splash hour, disability access and separate male and female only sessions dedicated to
Bengali and Somali culture especially as there is an increase health issue of not enough
exercise provided for these people in a suitable environment. N.B. We recognise that this is
not in the Borough Plan, but maintain it is needed nevertheless.
Interactive Club
In the 'interactive' computer club children would participate in learning activities organised
by themselves. Children and adults will have the opportunity to word-process CVs,
personal statements, letters, and their own personal issues. These would encourage them
to interlink with other children in the borough by introducing competition. There would also
be console games where children would have access to play games. This would interest
many kids as well as giving them something they actually enjoy doing. Computer games
can be educational as they teach kids to tackle problems, and to react to and solve tricky
situations instantly. But most of all children are willing to spend more time in the club rather
than on the street. There will be supervision provided at all times. Our aim would be to
provide higher attainments and facilities for the use of older people during daytime and the
younger people during the evening. There would be a separate section to gain access to
employment information -voluntary or paid. The club would offer voluntary opportunities
and work references.
Internet café
The Internet has been known for shopping in a supermarket without aisles. We want to
provide people the opportunity to Web browse. thousands of sites. There would be
restricted sites for children as there is inaccurate and misleading information available.
Staff would make an extensive analysis to bring quality web sites for peoples use. Children
would be able to do in-depth research on various issues, general interest, pop stars info
and many more topics. In addition there would be a general reference area giving people of
all ages the opportunity to read books and up-to-date newspapers in order to provide a
general day-to-day information service.
Basic knowledge club
This scheme would provide basic knowledge in order to educate our children and young
people about safety and healthy living. Topics, such as Safety First, Fire precautions,
Women's issues and sex educational issues (ie HIV/AIDS) would be dealt with. Teenage
girls and their protection, bullying, intimidation and pregnancy would also be subjects for
information. We would hope to provide the most comprehensive and detailed information
service of its kind to everyone. It would also deal with general prevention and treatment
information.
Cafeteria
As well as selling refreshments, snacks etc it would be an ideal meeting point for people
within the community wanting an informal chat or just a place to come and relax.
Youth Club / 'Street Life Info'
The aim of this service would be to offer up-to-date information about important drug related
issues through outreach and street work, targeting those most at risk of involvement in
crime or drugs. Information would come from a wide variety of sources such as
Government reports and statistics, Newspaper reports and features, magazine articles and
charitable organisations. The children would be provided with-reading materials and
videotapes in simple language using street drug names to enhance their knowledge
in issues explored in the course where the children would be able to critically evaluate the
information presented. It is important that children decide whether any information
submitted is fact or just opinions. It would also concentrate on prosecution and punishment,
employment and the consequences of having a criminal record.
Whilst this list is extensive it is by no means exclusive, but all in all the local community
would have a special place to live and play in, to relax and to plan it's own future.
In
partnership with SPLASH and NIP we can make this vision a reality.
