In 2016, British Land partnered with Global Generation to create a garden in the old Daily Mail ink room, fostering dialogue between local communities and newcomers. Combining urban food growing, carpentry, cooking and storytelling, the project promotes ecological leadership. The Paper Garden, relocated in 2020 to an old paper store, was built by 3,000 volunteers and provides a unique educational ecology space. Constructed with 60 per cent reclaimed materials.

 

Who is on the project? 

 

Architect- Jan Kattein Architects

Structure - Watermans 

M+E - Sweco 

Project Management - Aecom 

Fire - ORF 

Planning - DP9 

Funding - British Land 

 

 What is the programme and use of the space? How does the project foster community, connect people and contribute to urban life?

 

The Paper Garden is shaped by collaboration throughout its conception, construction and stewardship. Co-creation forms the basis of everything we do. Meaningfully involving local people from the outset has led to a unique sense of ownership, belonging and civic pride. Together, we: Enhance ecosystems; we plant for wildlife, garden organically and create healthy soil ecologies. Collaborate; we co-created community spaces, that help local people influence and contribute to their local area. Embody and showcase circular economy approaches: reclaiming and reusing materials wherever possible. Our methodology is based around the three territories of ’I, We and the Planet’. This is present in all our work. Core to our work are the year-long Generator and Green Ambassador programs offering ecological leadership training to young people. We run camping trips to ancient woodland. We deliver outdoor education to 10 schools and 2 nurseries and collaborate with another 10. We connect people with professionals so they can convey their priorities for their neighbourhood. We work with higher education institutions and businesses to create learning opportunities for young people. We work with SEND students to give access to nature. We run the Time & Talents holiday club. We host work experience and placements. We mentor community groups to establish gardens and food programs. We offer Twilight Gardening sessions and run Community Lunches for everyone. We run carpentry and craft sessions using natural materials... And we also welcome anyone who simply wants to see some green and say hello to our chickens.

 

 How does the community space make a positive social and environmental contribution? 

 

The Paper Garden is the largest and most ambitious community-self built in the UK using reclaimed materials. We calculated that 60% (by volume) of the materials used for the construction were retained or reclaimed. The Low Energy Transformation Initiative 2030 target recommends that buildings should incorporate 20% re-used materials by 2030. We achieved a threefold improvement on this goal, 7 years ahead of the target date. In terms of operational energy demand, the building was awarded an EPC of A. As far as we know, this is unprecedented for a building made from re-used materials. The construction process itself has become an integral part of Global Generation’s engagement activities. With an uncompromising focus on re-use, the project sets a precedent for sustainable construction whilst unleashing the potential of the construction process to contribute to greater community coherence in an area of London that is changing.

 

Please explain the governance of the project, such as its viability, purpose, motivation and any consultation, co-creation or community engagement undertaken in the development of the community space. 

 

Overall 3000+ volunteers have created the Paper Garden. Through GG’s youth and education programmes over 1000+ young people aged between 4 – 25 were involved in the co-creation of the garden and building. This includes 18 young people between 18 and 25 who took part in a paid traineeship where they acquired sustainable construction and community engagement skills. The real success of the Paper Garden lies in the coalition of advocates for sustainable construction that the project has built with each and every participant taking their experience and know-how back to their communities. Bringing different community groups together by co-hosting cooperate volunteering and co-building with school children has contributed to inter-generational exchange and a sense of shared purpose. The building itself as well as the project structure that we have put in place have established a veritable methodology for community-led placemaking. The evaluation of our experience from the Paper Garden has informed our approach to another project, the Triangle Ecology Garden in King’s Cross. Works are now on site there with volunteers and paid apprentices creating a garden, a classroom building, a small office and a community kitchen using reclaimed and natural materials including 2000 bricks hand-made through workshops with children and young people.