unit-code
Located next to London's Victoria Park along the Herford Union Canal, the Community Water Trust serves as a semi-permanent resistance space for narrowboaters. It bridges the gap between water-transient and land-bound communities, offering repose and information dissemination—a hub of pollination. It challenges consumerism and supports those in precarious housing situations by promoting repair, maintenance, reuse, and the circular economy. Embracing the dynamic nature of its members, the scheme provides flexible spaces based on collective needs, which can be packed up and relocated as required.
Tensions persist among the boat-dwellers, traditional house-dwellers, Canal River Trust, local authorities (Hackney/Tower Hamlets/LLDC) and other stakeholders in the immediate surroundings.
The scheme is expected to expand and adapt to meet the needs of occupants and the surrounding context. By occupying the space, the waterways are reimagined as a domestic network.
Through the exchange of physical and ideological materials, the scheme can facilitate resistance for those living in precarious housing conditions, forging alliances and eliminating anonymity.
The building utilises materials from Hackney Wick's warehouses and narrowboat repair for its structure, façade and maintenance.
By integrating the public towpath through the workshops, an open dialogue between the public and narrowboaters is fostered, facilitated by the repair activities.