Open City Friends tour of Industria, led by the project architects from Haworth Tompkins.
Industria is the UK’s first multi-storey light-industrial scheme, designed by Haworth Tompkins for Be First, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's regeneration company. In collaboration with industrial specialist Ashton Smith Associates, the project responds to the loss of industrial spaces in the capital. Between 2001 and 2020, Greater London lost nearly 1,500 hectares (the equivalent of over 2,000 football pitches) of industrial land to other, predominantly residential, uses. As a result, many urban areas cannot accommodate a mixed economy, and businesses often find it difficult to secure space to continue serving their local area.
The building provides over 11,400 sqm of floor space, accommodating 45 small and medium enterprises spread over four levels, in spaces ranging from 20 to 450 sqm. The building features two linear wings arranged on either side of three levels of large service decks, accessed by a 30m diameter helical ramp.
DNCO designed graphically bold elevations reflecting the building’s industrial function, as well as the scheme’s wayfinding and graphic identity.
Haworth Tompkins also designed a masterplan for the wider River Road Employment Area, featuring further industrial intensification as well as colocation of industrial and residential uses, building on the Borough’s pioneering industrial spirit, which includes Ford Dagenham among many others.
Tour begins at 10am on Friday 24 November 2023This tour is for Open City Friends only. If you are not a Friend but would like to attend this tour and others like it, sign up today and support our charitable work.
