Revamping the Stockwell ‘Hall of Fame’

Network Homes commissioned Campbell Tickell to undertake research to support the design and potential improvement to the Stockwell ‘Hall of Fame’. This was carried out by CT Associate Consultant, Paul Bragman.

Network Homes commissioned Campbell Tickell to undertake a community engagement exercise to establish the views of local residents and key stakeholders about the use, design and potential improvement of the space known as the ‘Stockwell Hall of Fame’.

The space was originally built as a ball court and over the last decade has become a popular area for graffiti. The space is surrounded by residential blocks and some residents expressed concern about the smell of paint and questioned how else the space could be used.

Our Approach:

The objectives of the consultation were to:

• engage key stakeholders in a discussion about the graffiti pen;
• establish the cultural value of the graffiti pen locally;
• assess whether the graffiti pen should be retained;
• if retained, identify how it could be improved as a local community facility;
• identify what the space could be used for, if the graffiti pen was replaced.

We carried out consultations with:

• residents and community groups by door-knocking and conducting  street interviews on the Stockwell Park Estate, as well as attending ongoing events and activities of community groups and residents in the area;
• graffiti artists who use the graffiti pen using social media – including blogs and a Facebook page, which included a video – and street interviews through semi-structured interview questions;
• key partners and local organisations via email and telephone surveys of local schools, Waltham Estate TMO, North Brixton Big Local Stockwell Community Trust.

We then set up a workshop for residents, graffiti artists and partners to review the consultation outcome and discuss future options.

Outcome:

The research had strong uptake. Responses were gathered from 167 residents, 51 graffiti artists, and 16 partner organisations, including the police, Big Local, SW9 Community Housing (a subsidiary of Network Homes) and local community groups.Five children from a local primary school also participated in the research in a focus group. The research found there was consensus that the space was an opportunity to bring people together and that some practical actions would improve the space.

The report made a number of recommendations including:

• replacing the surface of the graffiti pen to promote more community use, including possible use for football and basketball;
• improving drainage so the space does not flood in the rain;
• reinstating lighting until 9pm and improving CCTV of the area;
• encouraging the wider community to run activities within the space;
• encouraging groups and institutions working with young people to use the space for structured community activities (increasing community use and ownership of the space will encourage young people and children to feel safer using it).
• collaborating with stakeholders to manage the graffiti pen effectively and timetabling use of the space;exploring how concerns over paint fumes can be addressed.

Re-Opening

Following the work, the Stockwell Hall of Fame reopened in May 2019. The revamped space has a mix of facilities for the community to enjoy. The interior walls have been retained for artists to work on and there is a sports court for football and basketball.

There is also a new internal podium which can facilitate wider community use, such as showing films. The space is managed by a subsidiary of Network Homes and various stakeholders have said how delighted they are with the final outcome. More information on the reopening can be found here.

To find out more, contact Maggie Rafalowicz : maggie.rafalowicz@campbelltickell.com

This case study also appears in CT Brief- Issue 43