Jewish Community Center / Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Against tough competitors, such as Rafael Viñoly, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and Foreign Office Architects, the competition to design the Jewish Community Center was awarded to Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. The 30,000 sqf JCC project will emphasize an arts and community center that aims to bring “light, life and activity back to the street.” Situated on a heavily trafficked road, the JCC will include a three story linear pavilion that will create a “landscaped piazza and relate to the Camden Arts Center’s gardens” opposite the site.
More about the JCC after the break.
The large central piazza functions as an external room that links the center’s activities with the happenings of the community. Passersby as well as members of the JCC are brought together in one space. Alex Lifschutz explained, “The piazza is designed to activate Finchley Road, functioning as an outdoor room – equipped to host events, markets, ice skating – for the JCC’s programme, as well as inviting in the wider community.”
The center’s varying programmatic elements, such as the library, café, auditorium and screening room, classrooms, dance and rehearsal studios, nursery and offices, are arranged vertically with privacy increasing with each floor. The façade is fully glazed, and certain rooms are screened or open to galleries according to function. “Rooms are intermittently extended to the perimeter of the galleries giving articulation to the façade,” explained the architects.
Nick Viner, chief executive of the JCC, said the new building “will befit a community center which is truly the heart of the community, catering to the needs of all – young and old, religious and secular.”
Project Credits
architect: Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
project manager: Davis Langdon
planning consultant: DP9
QS: Gardiner & Theobolds
services and sustainability engineer: Norman Disney Young
structural engineer: Adams Kara Taylor
transport engineer: Faber Maunsell
acoustic engineer: Cole Jarman Associates
environment engineer: Faber Maunsell/Aecom
access consultant: All Clear
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11 comments »
excuse my ignorance but where the eff is this?
Was wondering the same thing, but was not as lazy.
“…landscaped piazza and relate to the Camden Arts Center’s gardens” opposite the site”
Camden Arts Centre
Arkwright Rd
London, NW3, United Kingdom
i really know why there must be so many “jewish museums/ jewish community-centres/ jewish memorials”.
why not spending money for social/youth projects, instead of placing remembrance-buildings onto any empty space!? im tired of this…
Totally agreed!
shameful!
MMMMM…….are you really that dumb?, or just plain bigot?, too bad there’s no editing in the posts, your ignorance (along with Y’s reply) is here for everybody to see)
What you’re asking others to do (social/youth projects) is what a “community center” is.
- What you’re asking others to do (social/youth projects) is what a “community center” is. -
i agree with guru and y:
social and youth projects are for people who need “space and social” activities.
all community centres i’ve been (and i’ve been to many countries) are visited by “sofisticated posh” people, talking about “being social to poor people” :(
i’d rather wanna see an empty green space, instead of an hyper-modern empty building, where its only allowed to talk quietly.
I like the facade pattern of the large structure, and the whole inner street/plaza sound like a good idea, I think it would give it more warmth as the whole design seems a bit off color but people are always what give public spaces their oomph.
Guru and Y: A community centre is not a place of remembrance, such as a museum or memorial. It functions to provide the Jewish community (which is quite sizeable in the area)with places to meet and learn etc. Be clear or at least read the accompanying text before you jump to conclusions.
I love the slightly cartoonish style of the renderings and if this feeling and atmosphere can be recreated in reality the building will be a triumph.
well benito, i think they mean
“jewish museums/ jewish community-centres/ jewish memorials”
its like in the past u.s.a.: rest rooms for white or colored people.
well, if i read “jewish community-centre”, i ask myself: what is the difference betwwen a “jewish community-centre” and a normal one?! and can i go inside? do i need to prove my confession, to pass?
but thats why they’ll call it JCC, its more political correct.
the street life depicted here and which the design professes to improve seems a bit stiff and lifeless to these eyes. Materiality, street furnishings, plantings and passive surveillance could be improved.
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