Endell Street

“JUST PROVIDING A ROOF OVER A HOMELESS PERSON’S HEAD DOES NOT EQUAL ‘JOB DONE’. IF WE ARE TO END ROUGH SLEEPING FOR GOOD, WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE THAN A BED FOR THE NIGHT, WE NEED TO HELP THEM TO GET BACK INTO EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENCE AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS SCHEME.”

IAIN WRIGHT, HOMELESSNESS MINISTER, FEBRUARY 2009

Endell Street is a beautiful Grade 2 listed gothic school restored and re planned to create a state of the art homeless facility including accommodation and training facilities. It is located in the Seven Dials Conservation Area in Camden, moments away from Covent Garden.

Original neo-gothic decoration was uncovered and restored and is complemented by the insertion of some unashamedly contemporary additions, including the introduction of a single storey counselling building at the rear. The new building was constructed with stock bricks reclaimed from the main building. Entrance and reception areas were opened up so that they are bright, light, open, airy and welcoming. Plasterboard and suspended ceilings were removed to reveal beautiful gothic brickwork. Existing timber floors were restored. Rear additions which, over many years, had been added in the old school playground were removed to create a beautiful sun trap garden.

“PETER BARBER ARCHITECTS’ REDESIGN OF A HOSTEL IN CENTRAL LONDON IS PART OF A RADICAL REINVENTION OF ITS CULTURE TO PREPARE RESIDENTS FOR INDEPENDENT LIFE... LIFE AT ENDELL STREET PROMISES TO BE A REVELATION BUT ALSO A CHALLENGE. BARBER HAS CREATED A BUILDING WHICH GIVES THEM THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE OF MEETING IT.”

BUILDING DESIGN MAGAZINE, May 2008

QUOTES

“I COULDN’T SLEEP THE FIRST 3 NIGHTS I WAS HERE CAUSE I COULDN’T BELIEVE THIS WAS FOR ME - I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO REALISE IT WAS A MISTAKE AND SEND ME AWAY!”

JULY 09. NEW RESIDENT

“I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT A LOVELY PLACE IT IS TO DO MY JOB, PARTICULARLY SINCE I CAN LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS DOOR TO ANOTHER WINDOW INTO THE GARDEN. IT HELPS WHEN I’M LISTENING TO SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFICULT AND DISTRESSING.”

JUNE 09. MEMBER OF STAFF

“PEOPLE LOVE VISITING ME HERE BECAUSE IT’S A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AND THEBUILDING’S NICE. EVEN MY MUM VISITS ME. SHE LOVES IT.”

SEPT 09. NEW RESIDENT

“I’VE LANDED IN A BED OF ROSES. NICE MAPLE FLOORS, MATCHING FURNITURE, MY OWN GARDEN. ANYTHING’S BETTER THAN THE OTHER OPTION, BUT THIS IS THE BEST HOSTEL I’VE EVER SEEN.”

Endell Street

“JUST PROVIDING A ROOF OVER A HOMELESS PERSON’S HEAD DOES NOT EQUAL ‘JOB DONE’. IF WE ARE TO END ROUGH SLEEPING FOR GOOD, WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE THAN A BED FOR THE NIGHT, WE NEED TO HELP THEM TO GET BACK INTO EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENCE AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS SCHEME.”

IAIN WRIGHT, HOMELESSNESS MINISTER, FEBRUARY 2009

BUILDING DESIGN MAGAZINE, May 2008

QUOTES

“I COULDN’T SLEEP THE FIRST 3 NIGHTS I WAS HERE CAUSE I COULDN’T BELIEVE THIS WAS FOR ME - I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO REALISE IT WAS A MISTAKE AND SEND ME AWAY!”

JULY 09. NEW RESIDENT

“I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT A LOVELY PLACE IT IS TO DO MY JOB, PARTICULARLY SINCE I CAN LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS DOOR TO ANOTHER WINDOW INTO THE GARDEN. IT HELPS WHEN I’M LISTENING TO SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFICULT AND DISTRESSING.”

JUNE 09. MEMBER OF STAFF

“PEOPLE LOVE VISITING ME HERE BECAUSE IT’S A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AND THEBUILDING’S NICE. EVEN MY MUM VISITS ME. SHE LOVES IT.”

SEPT 09. NEW RESIDENT

“I’VE LANDED IN A BED OF ROSES. NICE MAPLE FLOORS, MATCHING FURNITURE, MY OWN GARDEN. ANYTHING’S BETTER THAN THE OTHER OPTION, BUT THIS IS THE BEST HOSTEL I’VE EVER SEEN.”

SEPT 09. NEW RESIDENT

“SINCE IT WAS REFURBISHED, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS PLACE HAS REALLY IMPROVED MY MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE OF HOW THE ROOMS AND SPACES ARE ARRANGED.”

FEB 09. NEW RESIDENT

AWARDS

CIVIC TRUST AWARD 2008