Ingrid Bjerkan

As our city hurtles towards growth, profit is valued over people and social spaces face continual erasure, leaving communities, both old and young, feeling isolated and fractured.

Set within a canalside warehouse in East London, neglected for 40 years and on the cusp of redevelopment, my proposal for Chisenhale Works Canteen makes the case for its repair and reimagination, securing its future as a vital amenity for the local artist community and wider neighbours. Against a backdrop of entangled challenges, the Canteen is a space to slow down, for a sense of belonging and connection over comforting, affordable food. Here, the communal table enables everyday interactions and experiences, building mutual understanding through the fundamental act of sharing a meal.

A phased programme of light-touch interventions allows the scheme to evolve, at every stage testing its programming, governance, social and economic viability, and in the process, caring for both a building and for people.