Concrete Communities

Concrete Communities brings together a panel of design industry professionals for an evening of debate about how architecture impacts the way we feel.

Events

Upcoming Events

Event Date Location
Event 003
Date 20.10.2023
Location

Vitsœ Headquarters + Production Building
Leamington Spa. CV31 3NT

Description

Event 003 examines the purpose-built headquarters of Vitsœ. Like its Dieter Rams-designed furniture, the building was conceived as a universal modular system – a kit of parts. For Concrete Communities 003, a guided tour will take place, after which, all attendees are invited to stay for lunch.

Completed in 2017, the Warwickshire premises houses product-assembly, research & development, overnight accommodation, a kitchen and expansive dining space, in addition to work zones for the Vitsœ team. The health and well-being of the Vitsœ workforce is central to the building’s design. Orientated precisely north-south, its saw-tooth roof provides natural light and ventilation while generating electricity via photovoltaic panels. Artificial lighting is rarely needed during daylight hours.

The building’s structure, walls, roof, and wall-insulation are all made of wood. Vitsœ has used beech in its furniture since 1959, so it was entirely appropriate that the building’s structure is constructed of beech laminate-veneer lumber. The building was fabricated off-site. Finished components – up to 25m in length – were erected by two computer-controlled cranes. The entire structure was assembled in 23 working days.

Book
Credit | Dirk Lindner • Vitsœ

Past Events

Event Date Location
Event 002
Date 21.09.2023
Location

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
20 Tottenham Street
London. W1T 4RG

Description

Event 002 examines the Southbank Centre in London. Regarded as a landmark piece of post-war public architecture, this integrated complex of buildings includes the Hayward Gallery, the Purcell Room and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Masterminded as a neofuturistic accompaniment to the (now Grade I listed) Royal Festival Hall, it was a brutalist celebration of the future – a concrete commitment to people, art and culture. Commissioned by London County Council, it was completed in 1968, with architects Warren Chalk, Dennis Crompton and Ron Herron credited as having the greatest influence on its radical design.

Concrete Communities 002 invites experts from the design industry, in addition to Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (the award-winning architects’ responsible for the 2018 retrofit of the Southbank Centre) to talk about how the democratisation of good design could help promote happiness and improve our lives.

Brutalist interior of South Bank Centre, London.
Credit | Richard Battye • Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Panel 002

A profile shot of a woman with glasses and brown hair wearing a beige shirt and crossed arms.

Leanne Cloudsdale

Host + Moderator

David McKendrick

Art Director + Paperboy

John Grindrod

Author

Chris Allen

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

John Booth

Artist + Ceramicist

Kathryn Pashley

Product Designer + Academic

Matt Kelly

Plæy Workshop

Leonie Branston

Designer + Founder of Ferian

Daniel Schofield

Industrial Designer
Event 001
Date 10.05.2023
Location

The Workstation
15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield. S1 2BX

Description

The launch event celebrates J.L. Womersley’s brutalist masterpiece, Park Hill, which has defined the Sheffield skyline since completion in 1961. Now Grade II* listed, the ‘streets in the sky’ are once again home to proud residents who report a growing sense of happiness at their decision to live in a refurbished concrete icon.

Concrete Communities 001 invites experts from the design industry – in addition to Mikhail Riches (the architect’s responsible for the award-winning retrofit of Park Hill Phase 2) to talk about how modernist communal living can positively benefit our mental health.

Brutalist building Park Hill, Sheffield designed by Peter Womersley.
Credit | Tim Crocker • Mikhail Riches

Panel 001

A profile shot of a woman with glasses and brown hair wearing a beige shirt and crossed arms.

Leanne Cloudsdale

Host + Moderator
A profile shot of a woman with brown hair wearing a black zipped jacket.

Annalie Riches

Mikhail Riches
A profile shot of a man with brown hair wearing a navy zip top.

Charlie Monaghan

The Modern House
A profile shot of a man smiling with grey hair wearing a grey shirt and green overshirt.

Mark Latham

Urban Splash
A profile shot of a man smiling with brown hair wearing a black top.

Craig Oldham

Office of Craig
A profile shot of a man with glasses wearing a pink jumper and thick framed glasses.

Eddy Rhead

The Modernist
A profile shot of a person with blonde hair and crossed arms wearing a navy cardigan.

Phineas Harper

Open House
A profile shot of a woman smiling with dark hair wearing a black top.

Sadhana Jagannath

Environmental Psychologist
Credit | Sam Binstead • Concrete Communities

Documenting 001

As part of Event 001, members of the panel and design industry guests were invited to take part in a tour of the derelict flanks of Park Hill, Sheffield. Under normal circumstances, these blocks are inaccessible to the public, but after consultation with Urban Splash, Concrete Communities were given permission to view with suitable PPE. On 10 May 2023, the walkways and flats were explored, along with a former pub on the ground floor.

Two people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of people talking, wearing hi-vis and hard hats standing in front of Park Hill, Sheffield.
A man wearing a hard hat and hi-vis standing in front of Park Hill flats in Sheffield.
A group of people in hi-vis and hard hats standing in front of Park Hill flats, Sheffield.
A group of people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at Park Hill, Sheffield.
People on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at a former derelict pub in Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at a former derelict pub in Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at a former derelict pub in Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of people on a tour wearing hard hats and hi-vis at Park Hill, Sheffield.
A group of five men in hi-vis and hard hats standing against a concrete wall having their photo taken.
A group of men talking and crowded round a model of Park Hill flats, Sheffield.
Shot from behind, a group of people wearing hard hats and hi-vis with Concrete Communities logo printed on the back of the jacket.
Credit | Jim Marsden • Concrete Communities

Event 001

Tickets for the first event sold out – an indication that there is clearly an appetite for open and honest conversation about good design. The evening was split into two sections: Panel 01 from 18:45 to 19:45, followed by a short interval. Panel 02 started at 20:00 and finished at 20:45. After this, both Concrete Communities panels were invited to answer questions from the audience. The concluding debate was lively. Event 002 is now in planning.

A panel of people having a debate with the focus on a person in a navy cardigan and head mic.
A panel of five people debate on a stage.
A panel of people having a debate with the focus on a woman in a white shirt and glasses and a man in a green jacket and glasses.
A panel of five people debate on a stage with audience in foreground.
A panel of five people debate on a stage with audience in foreground.
Credit | Will Roberts • Urban Splash