Nourish Hub is a mixed-use community food hub where learning about cooking and health eating – as a common social activity – connects diverse cultures, teaches meaningful skills and brings local people together. Funded by the GLA and housed in a long-term vacant retail units owned by LB Hammersmith & Fulham, the Hub offers opportunities to those of all backgrounds; from employment in catering to volunteering, skill-sharing and cooking classes. UKHarvest – a not-for-profit charity on a mission to eliminate hunger and food waste through education will manage the hub building capacity and resilience within the local community.
From conception to completion, the local community was actively engaged in the creation process, making their input visible in the design and operation of the Hub. Its development was directly informed by targeted engagement to reach disadvantaged stakeholders, building in opportunities for community participation and creating awareness of good nutrition. Through the co-creation process with 200 community members and 20 community organisations we identified key asks and needs from the local community linked to enhancing social value and equality, diversity and inclusion. These have been embedded in the operational business plan and identity of the space. For this reason, the project will be used as a case study by the GLA as an exemplar for achieving social value during the design and commissioning process.
This is UKHarvest’s first permanent space, but the design draws on years of experience in food education. Getting people through the door is the first challenge, so the Hub has an open and welcoming relationship with the street, incorporating servery windows, direct views into the kitchen and a generous 3x4m sliding opening.
Read the case study in full here