Studio Weave were appointed as part of a multi-disciplinary team led by David Clarke Associates (Cultural Strategist) to support Hounslow’s efforts to accommodate the growing sub-sector of visual arts which specialises in producing events, festivals and work for public performance. Utilising the vast undercroft of the M4 flyover -because of its geographic position (near to national and international transport links) and record of production of outdoor arts and performance – there is potential to significantly capitalise on these rapidly growing sub-sectors of creative production. Work for this market has often been made in unsatisfactory conditions because of the scarcity of affordable large-scale permissive spaces; Hounslow’s pitch offers the undercroft space with potential to host this demand.
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Our proposal, 'The Under-Line' identifies four main programmatic elements (each one lacking support within typical urban economies), constructed over three phases:
The Art Market (phase one, supplemented by HLF and Good Growth Fund) will provide a mix of permanent 'craft cabins' for independent makers on a mix of short and longer term leases, alongside temporary stalls for hire by those working in the borough
The Outdoor Arts Production Space (phase one, funded by CEZ) will provide large scale production, rehearsal and training space for a range of live arts – including festival, circus, dance, theatre etc - which require large open space of height and basic technical equipment to replicate the conditions in which outdoor events will be realised in final form
The Creative Production Space (phase two, future funding opportunity) will provide a shared 'fabrication venue' with supported access to a range of traditional and contemporary tooling methods, alongside a number of small private workshops
The Arts Lounge (phase three, long-term community project) will act as an open-access community common room and kitchen for galvanising the creative community around associated events including exhibitions, skill share & training
Each function is situated beneath the M4 within Boston Manor Park; where particular locations are determined by the desirability of ‘extrovert’ or ‘introvert’ characteristics of the functions, as well as consideration of the varying height available between the topography of the park and the soffit of the M4.
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