A 300m² community centre is to be the first major building project to be constructed as part of Pup’s masterplan for Cody Dock, granted planning permission in 2019. Located on the River Lea in Newham, Cody Dock is a community-led space that connects local people with the natural environment, and supports the arts and creative industries within the community. The centre will provide a focus for activities at the dock, replacing and improving upon existing facilities. A grant-funded project, it will house a café and a small shop in addition to a main space for events, performances and exhibitions.

The language of the building marries the home-grown sensibility of Cody Dock with the off-the-shelf aesthetics of the light-industrial estate that surrounds the site. It is driven by a low-embodied carbon approach with simplicity of assembly; which will allow volunteers to participate in some aspects of its construction.

The building’s unusual footprint is created by the constraints of the site, with the main events space occupying the largest end. This open and column free space is made possible by a 12m long timber mega-truss, which supports the lateral roof span. Throughout the building, an exposed timber frame will be filled with in-situ hempcrete that simultaneously forms the internal finish, thermal mass and insulation. This handmade and almost rustic interior is contrasted with the sharp modularity of a panelised metallic exterior.