Daniel Bentley

Subtly rebellious is probably the most concise way to describe the Artist Neighbourhood’s personality. Essentially, the project provides a home in the heart of Soho for artists, where creative camaraderie is fostered by a flexible, sociable environment. Graduates and Students live in one of eighty-seven self-contained flats, above fourteen studios on the ground and first floor. Studios are occupied by independent practices exclusively, who provide work for the residents and benefit from a highly dynamic environment and subsided expenses. Talent is shared between residents in collaborative settings that demystify creative industries. Affordability and accessibility are paramount to the neighbourhood's fabric; considerate, compact design and an innovative financial model makes urban living a reality for young creatives. All studios are public facing and arranged like shopfronts to emulate the existing social dynamics of Soho that conjure a sense of community. Artists should be woven into the public realm: the exhibition space on the ground and first floor provides a platform and a level of exposure for residents that would usually be reserved for those with nepotistic networks. Ensuring all flats are large enough to be self-contained, by employing the space-saving benefits of shared facilities, allows for high living standards at lower costs. The Artist Neighbourhood is all about autonomy; designed to insert artists into spaces that typically exclude them. Provoking the preconceptions that artists do not belong in a corporate epicentre gives The Artist Neighbourhood a confidence that informs the design.