The caves of Nottingham are a fundamental part of the city’s history. Since ancient Saxon and Norman times the caves have served as shelter, workplace, storage and during WW2 they protected Nottingham population from bombardment. Like the caves, Project Haven is a place of work, shelter and security to the homeless population of the city of Nottingham, that aims is to provide an opportunity to achieve a good life and well-being.
With all the redundancies and job loss that was generated by financial hardship, the people of Nottingham face ever-increasing housing problems, and homelessness is evident in Nottingham’s City centre. The project includes temporary housing for homeless individuals and aims to help in the rehabilitation and integration of residents into the workforce and making them a functioning members of society.
The project has been designed in four quadrants: Charities, housing, business and outdoor. With housing taking the largest space of the project; employing De-Stijl’s Piet Mondrian language to interpret the site on its elementary form, the four activities are housed in simple rectangular forms. This concept is a re-interpretation of the map of the area and people’s movement contained within it through primary elements, shapes and colours.
The experience of space through differences in levels defines the space and changes the users’ experiences from one point to the other, as well as the projects views of the city and the place’s feel, which creates different atmospheres and experiences. Natural light is a driving force in the design, hence the atrium plays a central role in bring light into the various parts of the building.