Parking garages are often necessary eyesores, but Carl Turner Architects are hoping to change this with its Peckham Levels community space. The space, which inhabits seven empty level of a multi-storey garage, is designed to foster growth and development within communities of artists, makers and entrepreneurs. Some of the facilities offered in the Peckham Levels include shared workshops, co-working rooms, kiln rooms, 3D printing spaces and a host of other areas for interaction and work. Communal areas are also featured and are meant to inhibit social interaction and idea exchanges.
The expansive work-space was done in collaboration with Make Shift, an organization dedicated to improving public spaces. The idea was to improve and manage unused garages and utilizing them in innovative and re-purposed ways. The hope is that the Carl Turner Architects designed space will expand to other garages and will become a creative solution to all unused spaces.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Re-purposed Garages
- Turning unused parking garages into creative hubs for artists, makers, and entrepreneurs presents a disruptive innovation opportunity to transform underutilized spaces into vibrant and productive communities.
- Creative Collaborative Spaces
- Creating shared workshops, co-working rooms, and communal areas within re-purposed garages allows for increased social interaction and idea exchanges, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
- Revitalizing Public Spaces
- Through the collaboration with organizations like Make Shift, re-purposing unused garages presents an opportunity to improve and manage public spaces, injecting creativity and vitality into urban environments.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture
- Architects can leverage the trend of re-purposed garages to design innovative spaces that cater to the needs of creative communities, generating new business opportunities.
- Real Estate
- The re-purposing of unused garages enables real estate developers to transform overlooked properties into desirable, community-focused spaces, adding value to their portfolios and meeting the growing demand for unique workspaces.
- Community Development
- Organizations and community developers can take advantage of the trend of re-purposed garages to revitalize underused urban areas, promoting economic growth and fostering a sense of belonging within local communities.
