The redevelopment and extension of a historic chapel and radical theatre building to create a new cultural institute in East London.

Since the first meeting of the 'Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce' in a coffee shop in 1754, an array of institutes have been created in London focused on multi-disciplinary dialogue, creative collaboration and cultural production. As groups of like-minded individuals they have a useful intensity of purpose but are frequently hampered in their ability to harness the strength of London’s diversity of class, ethnicity and religion.

London's iCCi is a radically new institute that actively encourages social integration, providing a place where all Londoners can come together to meet, produce and present. It provides a world-class destination as well as an essential community resource – international significance rooted in the hyper-local.

Tower Hamlets has the greatest inequality of any London Borough, with 39% of people living in poverty. Mile End Road provides a clear visual demonstration of the challenges of this economic diversity. Sitting between the City’s eastern expansion and Stratford’s regeneration there is a large area which has seen minimal benefits from the adjacent developments.

Located on the high street by Stepney Green underground station, the existing site includes a large public house; today a Weatherspoons, previously a Welsh Conformist Chapel and the New Half Moon Theatre, designed by Florian Beigel. For over 120 years this site has provided essential social infrastructure to the local community combined with cultural production of national renowned.

The iCCi reuses and extends these buildings to support the three pillars of social integration. Firstly, providing a diverse family of spaces on the high street to allow people to meet and building relationships.

Secondly, establishing a codesign process and Institute Assembly to enable participation in both the design and operation of the new institute. Thirdly by creating high quality cultural facilities with a generous public welcome it helps empower the local community and tackle inequalities.

The new building is defined by the external spaces it provides. The existing courtyard connecting high street to theatre provides the main entrance - an open, inclusive and accessible welcome with glimpses into the surrounding institution.

The west courtyard sits between the theatre and the new build extension of stacked cultural facilities - broadcast studio, lecture hall, studio. Its glazed roof protects a lush conservatory and public foyer. The east courtyard provides a more intimate external space, with the cemetery wall and ancient trees creating a cool, shady spot for informal uses.

Extending the uses, enclosure and connectivity of the high street the courtyards are publicly accessible spaces, designed to the Public London Charter. Providing calm, accessible spaces for industry and the neighbourhood alike, they aim to nurture serendipity and collaboration, becoming a key piece of Mile End’s connective social infrastructure.

TfL’s Sustainable Development Framework ‘High Performance Building’ indicators have been used to ensure the environmental performance of the buildings is exceptional. The starting point is the creative reuse of the existing buildings’ structure to minimise embodied carbon. New mass timber structure and lightweight timber construction provide low carbon new build elements, designed for disassembly with exposed fixings. New free-standing elements are clad in rain screens made from profile, non-combustible low carbon panels.

Operational carbon emissions are minimised through efficient envelope, servicing and energy generation. A new super-insulated envelope minimises wasted energy. New chimneys support both natural ventilation and mechanical heat recovery units as necessary. Accessible sawtooth roofs terraces are used for photovoltaic panels. The protection of existing trees, new courtyards and planted roof terraces create a lush green character, extending the secluded natural growth of the adjacent cemetery into the public realm.